Our path to St. Oswald’s (Part 3)
In 2008 my Burnsian colleague, Bob McDonald and I, were asked by the
Glasgow & District Burns Association to approach the Minister of Glasgow
Cathedral, the Rev Dr Laurence Whitley, to ascertain if we could join the
Cathedral's congregation on the morning of 25th January 2009 the 250th
anniversary of the birth of our National Bard, Robert Burns.
What actually took place, was a special service at 4.00 pm that day,
attended by more than six hundred people. We were linked by TV to both
America & Russia. It was my privilege to pay tribute to the memory of
Burns during that service. And all of this at the behest of Dr. Whitley
But what has this to do with our path to St. Oswald's?
Bob McDonald was a Past President of the Rotary Club of Dennistoun. Part
of our work on the lead up to the special service in the Cathedral was to
attend meetings on a Wednesday evening. Bob would take me to
Dennistoun as his guest and then we would leave for Glasgow and a
meeting with a choir who would play a major part in our Cathedral service.
During these visits to Dennistoun, I little thought I would ever become a
member of the Club far less its’ President. I could also not have anticipated
that at that Club final steps would be taken to lead us to St. Oswald's
However, about seven years ago I did become a member of the Rotary Club
of Dennistoun. It was there that Enez and I first met Bob Gallacher. In
conversation we discovered Bob attended St Oswald's.
Now when we went to Church in Estoril, Lisbon or Porto we would obtain a
copy of the European Anglican Magazine and bring it back for Bob along
with the pew sheets.
In one edition were surprised to see a photograph of Bishop Geoffrey,
Bishop of Europe and Gibraltar, carrying in the Haggis at a Burns Supper in
Madrid! When I met him at Verna's Ordination I asked him if he had enjoyed
the Haggis, to which he replied "Yes, it was quite nice"
Perhaps a convert to our National Bard - who knows?
After a while Bob began to suggest that we might like to visit St Oswald's
some Sunday. I have to admit that at first we did not take up Bob's
invitation. However, in time we decided we should make the effort to accept
Bob's invite and visit St Oswald's.
As we entered the Church that first day, Bob and Ulrich coming down the
stairs from the Vestry. Bob in turn once introduced us. As we entered into
the Church proper, we were warmly greeted by Colin & Maxwell - "Welcome
to St. Oswald’s".
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