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A little piece of history...

Overtown Parish Church was given full status on the 17th of July 1876 under the guidance of the minister Rev George Burnett. Prior to this Overtown was a Chapel of Ease and worshipped in the village. The church was heated by two coal fires - one in the north-west corner (now a cupboard, behind the choir) and the other in the South-east corner (behind the entrance vestibule), and lit by paraffin lamps.   

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In 1885 there were 205 members on the Communion Roll. Rev David Thomson, was ordained on the 11th of May 1888 and was inducted as the second minister.  Although the Rev George Burnett had seen the ground purchased and the church and manse built, there was still much to be done.  The Baptismal register began and his first baptism was in May 1888.  In 1889 instrumental music was introduced and in 1890 it was resolved to enlarge the space in front of the pulpit, including three side seats to improve accommodation for Communion, Choir and organ.  The Choir was permitted to practice secular music during the pleasure of the Kirk Session. The Precentor was superseded by an organist who was paid £10 per year.  At this time the beadle received about £8 per year. 

 

In January 1920 the War Memorial tablet had been erected in the Church, and in March 1920 the Public War memorial Committee were given permission to erect a war memorial on the church grounds.  Rev David L Thomson died on the 12th August 1922.

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Rev TM McKendrick became the third minister of Overtown on the 30th of October 1922.  In 1923 a Sunday afternoon meeting had begun and the Kirk Session agreed to support it.  The building of the Small Hall was suggested on the 30th of May 1924, and grants came from the Baird Trust and the Coltness Iron Company.  The Kirk Session on the 18th of January 1925 made it very clear that the new hall had to be used only for "intellectual, moral and religious good of the parishioners - the hall will not be let for dancing or card playing.  It could be used for social activities, and some dancing may be part of  that."  Rev McKendrick  was called to Laurieston Parish Church in Glasgow on 16th January 1927.

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Rev Hector MacLennan MacLeod was ordained and inducted on the 8th of June 1927 and the fourth minister of Overtown.  During this time the Girls Guildry was founded, the Guardian being Miss Janet G Craig from Cambusnethan Priory.  The Boy Scouts were also founded in this time. WH Telfer Esq, Managing director of the Coltness Iron Works gifted an organ to the Church in September 1929, and in 1930 Dr HP Wright and Mr Muat worked together to make and donate a communion set and a cabinet in which to store the set which catered for 300 members. Rev H MacLennan Macleod was called to Killearn in May 1931, where he remained until he died in 1962.

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The fifth minister of Overtown, Rev James Henderson Mechie was inducted on the 2nd of December 1931.  In 1932 the Church adopted the New Model Deed of Constitution and created a Congregational Board.  They built the church kitchen (at that point above the boiler house) and re-slated the church.  Four pewter communion cups were received at this time from Wishaw Old Parish Church.  Mr Mechie died in December 1939.

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Rev James Lyon Kerr was ordained and inducted to Overtown on 29th May 1940, he was to be the sixth minister.  In 1941 the weekly freewill offering scheme was introduced and had over 200 members contributing.  In 1959 the names of those who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War were added to the memorial in the Church.  Also during this time various improvements were made, oil-fired heating, a new hall floor and redecoration.  The communion table gifted by  a Congregation at Eyemouth, a new baptismal font, lectern and choir chairs were all added to the church. In 1961 Rev Kerr was made a Justice of the Peace, and 1965 was moderator of Hamilton Presbytery. In 1944 the Boys Brigade began in  the church under the guidance of BB Officers from Wishaw.  Rev Kerr retired in 1979.

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The Very Reverend Dr Sheilagh Kesting became minister in 1980, as well as being the seventh minister at Overtown she was the first female minister at Overtown. In this time the Brownies and Guides were started along with a Youth Group.  Rev Kesting was called to St Andrews High Church in Musselburgh in 1986.  She was later invited to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2007/08 and was created a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Francis in November 2016 in recognition of her exceptional service to the Holy See and as a result of her commitment to ecumenism in Scotland..

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Rev Dr Robert Anderson came to Overtown as eighth minister in 1986, during this time the new Large Hall was completed and provided much needed hall space, he last preached in Overtown Parish Church in 1989.

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Rev Dr J Mary Henderson was the ninth minister of Overtown in 1990, and minister until 2000.

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Rev Nan Low became Minister of Overtown in 2002, the tenth minister.  During this time there were many improvements to the church, the development of easier disability access to church and halls, a new entrance porch to the halls, redeveloped car park with boundary wall and railings. In 2003 Mr Tom Russell donated a new organ to the church and is still used in weekly worship, Rev Low was called to Neilston Parish church in 2007 and inducted in 2008.

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Rev Bruce Sinclair became the eleventh minister in Overtown in January 2009. Rev Sinclair is part of the pastoral team at the National Youth Assembly and encouraged young members of the congregation to attend. He also organised annual congregational trips to Iona. In 2009 the church began running a summer holiday club for the youth within the parish. Within his time at Overtown Parish Church he introduced the Easter labyrinth which is continued to this day. Rev Sinclair was called to Jordanhill Parish Church in September 2015.

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On the 29th of June 2017 Rev Lorna MacDougall was inducted as the twelfth minister in Overtown Parish Church. Rev MacDougall has set about modernising the Sunday services and saw a new modern audio and visual system be installed and has also overseen the formation of the social and fundraising committee. Rev MacDougall is currently navigating the church through the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic.

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