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www.neilstonparishchurch.org.uk |
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Welcome to Church of Scotland, Neilston Parish Church online. |
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Scottish Charity Number: SC035155 Church of Scotland Number: 140757
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Alexander Fleming Society |
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The Alexander Fleming Appreciation Society
On 12 June 1994, a Thanksgiving Service was held in Neilston Parish Church to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of an eminent former minister Dr Alexander Fleming, Minister of Neilston Parish Church from 1804 to 1844. In 1826, despite enlargement of the church, it was still too small to accommodate the population and the Heritors demanded payment of seat rents for those attending services. Dr Fleming proceeded to preach from a tent erected in the graveyard for a period of about eight years, insisting that “the people of the Parish are entitled to hear the gospel without money or price.” The case went to the House of Lords and although it was not successful, the parishioners were subsequently able to return quietly to the church and take their places without paying rent and with no further opposition from the Heritors.
After the Thanksgiving Service, it was decided to form the Alexander Fleming Appreciation Society as a small publishing press to perpetuate his memory. The Inaugural Meeting was held on Thursday 18 August 1994 in Neilston Parish Church Halls. The first publication – Man of Principle - was a memoir of Dr Fleming by our then Minister, Reverend Alexander Macdonald. Since then the Society has published a further nine books. We are currently working with Bobbins and Threads, a group of former employees of the Crofthead Mill, with a view to producing a history of the mill in Neilston.
The Publications Committee 2007 Mr Alastair W Alexander, Mr John Anderson, Miss Marian F Brown, Mrs Irene M Dand, Mrs Janette Semple, Mr Richard Spearey, Mrs M Susie Stewart
PublicationsMan of Principle Alexander Fleming Minister of Neilston Parish Church 1804-1844 Rev Alexander Macdonald 1994 ISBN 1 899523 00 6
When Hopes Return A Collection of Poems James D Sharp 1995 ISBN 1 899523 01 4
A Straight FurrowRobert Barr Minister of Neilston Parish Church 1895-1952 Rev Alexander Macdonald 1996 ISBN 1 899523 02 2
Tastebuds A Blend of Recipes from the Parish of Neilston Gena Henderson 1997 ISBN 1 899523 03 0
The Word of Life A Short History of the West of Scotland Bible Society Rev Alexander Macdonald 1998 ISBN 1 899523 05 7
Neilston Day BookA collection of meditations for every day of the year Rev Alexander Macdonald 2000
2000 in 2000 A Tale of Two Bikers Alasdair Alexander and Duncan Watt 2000
Rambling Around Scottish ChurchesIrene M Dand 2002 ISBN 1 899523 04 9
Well of Life A Short History of Neilston Parish Church 2004 ISBN 1 899523 06 5
Slice of LifeAnother collection of thoughts for every day of the year Rev Alexander Macdonald 2005 |
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Rev Alexander Fleming Grave Stone in Church Yard |