In 1880, the first approach was made to Aberdeen Presbytery for permission to set up a new congregation at Mannofield.
Plans quickly followed for the site of the new church to be situated at Countesswells Road and then, as now, there was much hard work and fund raising, donations and grants and in particular the vision, determination and generosity of Mr. William Gordon.
Rev CC. McDonald conducted the first service on 27th February 1881 in a temporary wooden building.
The Rev William Forbes was inducted on 10th March. 1881 and work on the new church buildings was started with a seating capacity of 700 (now 635).
The Rev. Dr. H. Story who later became Principal of Glasgow University, opened the building familiar to us today on 30th July 1882. The desired status as a parish church was granted to Mannofield in March 1882.
Over the ensuing years, Mannofield has been served faithfully by the following Ministers:
Find out more about the Ministers at Mannofield Church in the publication A Century at Mannofield which was published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the church.
Points of Interest – Mannofield Church
Original Church
The original Church was situated directly in front of the present building. It was a wooden structure known as a Chapel of Ease. The building had been brought from nearby Craigiebuckler to act as temporary church accommodation, and following the erection of the present stone building it went on to serve as a temporary place of worship in nearby Kenfield, and then Bieldside, before finally being demolished in 1969.
The first service took place here on 27th February 1881 conducted by Rev. C. C. MacDonald.
William Gordon’s stained glass window
Click Image to Enlarge
The west window of the church was donated by William Gordon in 1892 in memory of his sister who died that year. Gordon was instrumental in the founding of Mannofield Church, was an elder here and held the position of Session Clerk for 9 years of the Church’s history. This vibrant stained glass window depicts the family of Bethany showing Martha in a position of servitude, Jesus teaching, Mary in devotion and Lazarus.
The inscription reads: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of a beloved member of this church who was called to her rest 25th February, 1892. She chose the good part and was zealous in good works, doing what she could in the service of her Lord and Saviour.’
The four other figures are Moses with the tablets of law, David as psalmist, St. Peter as the keeper of the keys of heaven, and St. Paul as the leader with a pastoral staff. The inscription reads: ‘In thy presence is fulness of Joy’.
The final inscription reads: ‘ I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.’
Messrs Clayton and Bell produced the window.
Stained Glass Window, South Transept
Click Image to Enlarge
The stained glass window in the south transept is an allegorical interpretation of the verse from Psalm 126 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”. The Rev John Anderson chose the text.
The window was designed in 1989 by John Patience RIBA an architect then based in Riverside Drive Aberdeen with an interest in stained glass design. Prior to designing the Mannofield Church window Mr Patience spent time with American artist, Harvey Salvin in his studios near Boat of Garten and Edinburgh when he created the windows for the Aberdeen Crematorium.
The window was made by Martin N Farrelly in his Crathes Studio and installed in 1989.
Click Image to Enlarge
Stained Glass Window, North Transept
The window in the north transept was designed and installed by Shona McInnes and dedicated in May 1999. The theme of this window is “The calming of the storm” and the inscription is “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life”. This was provided by a legacy left to the church by the late Isobel Calder.
Stained glass window by Shona McInnes who was also responsible for the ‘Piper Alpha Memorial window’
Font
The bowl in the Font is dated 1888 and is thought to have been the former Common Communion Cup.
William Gordon’s Memorial Tablet
The wall mounted tablet in the vestibule bears witness to the benevolence of Mr. William Gordon.
Clock
In 1885 a large clock with four faces was installed in the church tower in response to a growing public need for timekeeping. At one time a clock- maker would regularly visit public clocks in the area to ensure they kept correct time. The clock is now maintained by Aberdeen City Council.
World War One Memorial
A granite war memorial was installed in 1921 recording the names and military units of the fallen. Later a second memorial to the fallen of World War II was also installed.
Mannofield Church Spire
A replica of the ‘Mither Kirk’ and the second tallest church spire in Aberdeen.
Designs of Door Panels
The glass panels in the doors leading from the vestibule to the Sanctuary were designed by Fraser Beaton a former Elder of the church who has now retired to the Borders
Land and Sea
The design intends to echo the themes of the existing stained glass windows within the transepts of the chancel, a reminder of mans’ place on earth, our local heritage and traditions of seafaring and farming around Aberdeen.
The panels combine, reading from top to bottom, with obvious and deeper meanings:
The heavens, sun and moon indicate the rhythm of our daily lives.
The apple tree echoes the Garden of Eden, Adam’s early account in the Old Testament and the life sustaining bounties and the Grace, which God continues to bestow upon us.
Horse chestnut trees, familiar to us, living sentinels around the Church building, endorse a sense of place and our responsibility of stewardship within the Parish.
The ‘birds of the air’ suggest family life, a couple sharing, and echoes the story of the Ark with animals entering two by two.
Continuing the Flood theme, storm clouds and lightning flashes over the sea allude to ‘the storms of life’ as well as the dangers within our local fishing, shipping and oil industries. The rainbow, a glowing symbol of hope, reminds us of God’s promise to us and His unconditional constancy.
The original simple Church building of Mannofield (Chapel of Ease) set alongside the existing structure, presented in current digital form, records our history and aim: to be the ‘Heart of the Community’.
The salmon harvest repeats the fishing theme both at sea and in the local rivers of the Dee and Don, reminding us of Jesus’ aims and practice as a ‘fisher of men’.
The cereal harvest echoes our prayer: ‘Give us each day our daily bread’ whilst the five loaves and two fishes remind us of the feeding of the five thousand and the many other miracles Jesus performed in His short three-year ministry.
The turbulent waters and jagged shapes of the right hand panel create a sense of frenetic unease. Whereas the peaceful serenity of the left hand panel highlights the delicate balance that underlies our environment and earthly existence. As such, Eco themes of sustainability are embroidered into the general iconography of the design.
Strawberry fields, for which Mannofield first became nationally famous, surround the Greek symbols Alpha and Omega, reminding us of the everlasting nature of our faith and the certainty that God is with us till the end of time.
Fraser Beaton December 2016
Click Image to Enlarge
Embroidered Panel 2016
The design of the panel has been arranged to complement both the new etched glass panels and the existing stained glass windows within the chancel. It is a celebration of the various aspects of our Christian faith with reference to periods in the church calendar: the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord, set in juxtaposition with our church life at Mannofield today
The upper and lower borders incorporate trefoils representing the Trinity, the dove symbolising peace, the crown of thorns symbolising the crucifixion, alpha and omega, the beginning and the end and a shaking of hands symbolising brothers and sisters meeting in friendship and offering help to others. The lower central panel includes the name of Jesus IHS (shortened form of the Greek –ihsous) which, by inference and intent, supports the entire piece.
The side borders incorporate simple cross shapes, the symbol of our faith, and the ankh, an ancient Egyptian symbol of life and knowledge adopted by the early Christian church.
Central to the design is the cross, a reminder of the sacrifice that
Jesus made for us that we might live and have eternal life.
The four central panels, presented as in stained glass, depict the land and sea, the beauties of our natural world and the resources we harvest from it. They also depict the open fields, the rivers and seas with fish, the bountiful crops of grain and fruit and also our weather cycles.
It is intended that these images echo the many references from Biblical text e.g. the great flood including the rainbow, the fishers of men, the feeding of the five thousand, the Garden of Eden and the seed sower
Banners 2021
These banners have been dedicated to the glory of God on 5 September 2021, commssioned and gifted in honour of Chrissy Smith, long-time faithful member of Mannofield Parish Church. The artist, who both designed and created the panels is Penelope Duffy, who studied textiles at Aberdeen Gray’s School of Art in the late 80s. She has mainly been involved in theatre/dance costume design and construction ever since.
The objective in creating the banners was to provide visual stimulation throughout the year which would reflect the spirit of Mannofield church and its community. These designs needed to sit in harmony with the old and new stained glass windows and other artworks in the sanctuary. The artist also met with Chrissie as a part of the creative process, selecting themes and items that were meaningful to her to include in the design such as the daffodils and her father’s hands. Additionally, in the effort to recognize the importance of the congregation’s commitment to the environment, the backing fabrics of both banners had a former life as the communion table coverings of the Church of Scotland, Oban and Kilmore, where a friend of the artist’s Grandfather was a minster in the 1960s.
Grace
This banner reflects an uplifting sense of support and joy. The crazy patchwork replicates the stained glass of the adjacent window, and also contains elements of local Victorian architecture like the Faith banner. The large hands offering comfort are that of the Father, from which life and light appear to be born in the weightlessness of the banner, held aloft by the pairing doves. The hands shaking above, suggests unity in the congregation, friendship and fellowship, community and assistance and understanding. The baptism font frames the left-hand corner and is a visual reminder of God’s grace through baptism. The golden goblet in the upper corner mirrors it’s other half in the Faith banner suggesting partnership. The crown of thorns is now sprigged with the daffodil emblem which is repeated in each corner and connected to the celebration of the last supper and baptism. New life from death. The Grace of God in action.
Faith
This banner tells a story with interlinking symbols. The design is set on a spectrum of sunrise/sunset patchwork blocks. Featured in the hanging are: the anchor which represents the steadfastness of the faith within the congregation while the golden goblet reflects the sun’s rays and the importance of communion. The crown of thorns eclipses the goblet and casts shadows that intercept the sun’s rays. Those rays lighten the path to hope and righteousness, flanked by the immortality of the Cypress trees. The interaction of the symbols interwoven in the coupling pattern of triangles almost appear cog-like, suggesting the functionality of faith and the relationship within the church. The birds represent both freedom and direction in the vortex of life. In the foreground is the representation of the church itself, incorporating the original wooden structure from 1880’s. Also in the foreground is the ship’s wheel which represents guidance and echoes the round, spoked stained-glass window. The scroll proclaims the importance of Faith in God’s Word to the congregation.
Other points of note:
Offering Plate
Lamb and Flag: denotes sacrifice
In St John’ Gospel 1:29, John the Baptist on sighting Christ, exclaims “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world”.
The Lamb is Christ and the flag which the lamb is portrayed as carrying is of the patron saint of England, St George.
The combination of a lamb and the flag of St George was also the symbol for the Knights Templar
The Main Hall was added in 1910.
The centenary of our Church was in 1982 and the Rt. Rev. William Johnston conducted the Centenary Hall dedication service on 8th February 1981. Due to the demands on the church accommodation by the many active organisations attached to Mannofield, additional rooms were added in 1994.
Claire’s Angel Window
The Angel window was something that former Sunday school teachers Maureen Murray, Diane Bridgeford and Gillian Slessor and their class of girls decided to create as a project in Spring 2005. “Kidzone” as it was then called wanted to make something that could be placed in the church for everyone to see.
Claire Murray, Catriona MacRae, Ellis Jamieson, Catrin Jones, Kirsten Tait and Olivia Carr were the youngsters involved. Claire found the angel design on clip art and the others approved it.
It was then enlarged to the size they required for the window.
Claire said at the window’s dedication: “First we had the picture of the angel enlarged to the size we required for the window. Then we took our design to the SGO workshop where Mr & Mrs Stone showed us step by step how a stained glass window was formed. The first stage was to lead the shape of the angel on to the glass which was tricky as the lead was stiff and made it hard to bend round corners. After the silhouette was in place we decided on the colours to use. Each section of the angel had a separate colour. The girls took it in turns to cut sheets of colour into the right shapes. Once all the colour was in place the glass was turned over and leaded on the other side. It was then given a last clean.”
It took four weeks in the studio and was completed in six if you count the discussions, practice samples and hanging. Throughout it all Mr. & Mrs. Stone were a great help to them
The window was installed in June 2005.
Sadly, Claire died on 22 December 2005 but the Angel window is a wonderfully fitting memorial to her.
The Guild Cross of Stones
Each year the Guild nationally chooses and works on a theme. In 1997 this was “Together for God”.
One of the suggestions from the central Guild office in Edinburgh was that each lady (only ladies were Guild members in 1997) should take to a meeting a stone or pebble which in some way represented her. Perhaps this stone came from her garden, from a favourite holiday destination, a picnic spot or a place with memories. Whatever its origins, it would have its own significance to the giver.
The idea was to set out night lights in the form of a cross and that in turn each lady placed her stone between the candles. She could then share the story behind the stone or simply put it down. The candles were then lit and by candlelight all thought and reflected on the stories – many sad, some funny, some happy occasions.
As you would expect Aberdeen is represented on the Cross by several pieces of granite but so too are many other places throughout Scotland including Iona, the cradle of Christianity in our country. There are stones also from other countries including Cyprus and the Holy Land, with stones from Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee.
Apart from places, families were also represented as we have/had in our Guild sets of sisters, mothers and daughters, showing the continuity of Christian life within our church
Be Inspired — Gift to Mannofield Kirk 17 August 2008 from John and Katharine Telfer
M.A.H. Arthur donated the Lectern in 1936.
When the chancel area was significantly altered in 1969 by the removal of the organ, choir stalls and central pulpit, a completely new organ was installed in the gallery in September by J W Walker & Sons Ltd at a cost of £7106.
For further information about J W Walker & Sons Ltd see
History
About Us
In 1880, the first approach was made to Aberdeen Presbytery for permission to set up a new congregation at Mannofield.
Plans quickly followed for the site of the new church to be situated at Countesswells Road and then, as now, there was much hard work and fund raising, donations and grants and in particular the vision, determination and generosity of Mr. William Gordon.
Rev CC. McDonald conducted the first service on 27th February 1881 in a temporary wooden building.
The Rev William Forbes was inducted on 10th March. 1881 and work on the new church buildings was started with a seating capacity of 700 (now 635).
The Rev. Dr. H. Story who later became Principal of Glasgow University, opened the building familiar to us today on 30th July 1882. The desired status as a parish church was granted to Mannofield in March 1882.
Over the ensuing years, Mannofield has been served faithfully by the following Ministers:
Find out more about the Ministers at Mannofield Church in the publication A Century at Mannofield which was published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the church.
Points of Interest – Mannofield Church
The original Church was situated directly in front of the present building. It was a wooden structure known as a Chapel of Ease. The building had been brought from nearby Craigiebuckler to act as temporary church accommodation, and following the erection of the present stone building it went on to serve as a temporary place of worship in nearby Kenfield, and then Bieldside, before finally being demolished in 1969.
The first service took place here on 27th February 1881 conducted by Rev. C. C. MacDonald.
William Gordon’s stained glass window
The west window of the church was donated by William Gordon in 1892 in memory of his sister who died that year. Gordon was instrumental in the founding of Mannofield Church, was an elder here and held the position of Session Clerk for 9 years of the Church’s history. This vibrant stained glass window depicts the family of Bethany showing Martha in a position of servitude, Jesus teaching, Mary in devotion and Lazarus.
The inscription reads: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of a beloved member of this church who was called to her rest 25th February, 1892. She chose the good part and was zealous in good works, doing what she could in the service of her Lord and Saviour.’
The four other figures are Moses with the tablets of law, David as psalmist, St. Peter as the keeper of the keys of heaven, and St. Paul as the leader with a pastoral staff. The inscription reads: ‘In thy presence is fulness of Joy’.
The final inscription reads: ‘ I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.’
Messrs Clayton and Bell produced the window.
Stained Glass Window, South Transept
The stained glass window in the south transept is an allegorical interpretation of the verse from Psalm 126 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”. The Rev John Anderson chose the text.
The window was designed in 1989 by John Patience RIBA an architect then based in Riverside Drive Aberdeen with an interest in stained glass design. Prior to designing the Mannofield Church window Mr Patience spent time with American artist, Harvey Salvin in his studios near Boat of Garten and Edinburgh when he created the windows for the Aberdeen Crematorium.
The window was made by Martin N Farrelly in his Crathes Studio and installed in 1989.
Stained Glass Window, North Transept
The window in the north transept was designed and installed by Shona McInnes and dedicated in May 1999. The theme of this window is “The calming of the storm” and the inscription is “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life”. This was provided by a legacy left to the church by the late Isobel Calder.
Stained glass window by Shona McInnes who was also responsible for the ‘Piper Alpha Memorial window’
Font
The bowl in the Font is dated 1888 and is thought to have been the former Common Communion Cup.
William Gordon’s Memorial Tablet
The wall mounted tablet in the vestibule bears witness to the benevolence of Mr. William Gordon.
In 1885 a large clock with four faces was installed in the church tower in response to a growing public need for timekeeping. At one time a clock- maker would regularly visit public clocks in the area to ensure they kept correct time. The clock is now maintained by Aberdeen City Council.
A granite war memorial was installed in 1921 recording the names and military units of the fallen. Later a second memorial to the fallen of World War II was also installed.
Mannofield Church Spire
A replica of the ‘Mither Kirk’ and the second tallest church spire in Aberdeen.
Designs of Door Panels
The glass panels in the doors leading from the vestibule to the Sanctuary were designed by Fraser Beaton a former Elder of the church who has now retired to the Borders
Land and Sea
The design intends to echo the themes of the existing stained glass windows within the transepts of the chancel, a reminder of mans’ place on earth, our local heritage and traditions of seafaring and farming around Aberdeen.
The heavens, sun and moon indicate the rhythm of our daily lives.
The apple tree echoes the Garden of Eden, Adam’s early account in the Old Testament and the life sustaining bounties and the Grace, which God continues to bestow upon us.
Horse chestnut trees, familiar to us, living sentinels around the Church building, endorse a sense of place and our responsibility of stewardship within the Parish.
The ‘birds of the air’ suggest family life, a couple sharing, and echoes the story of the Ark with animals entering two by two.
Continuing the Flood theme, storm clouds and lightning flashes over the sea allude to ‘the storms of life’ as well as the dangers within our local fishing, shipping and oil industries. The rainbow, a glowing symbol of hope, reminds us of God’s promise to us and His unconditional constancy.
The original simple Church building of Mannofield (Chapel of Ease) set alongside the existing structure, presented in current digital form, records our history and aim: to be the ‘Heart of the Community’.
The cereal harvest echoes our prayer: ‘Give us each day our daily bread’ whilst the five loaves and two fishes remind us of the feeding of the five thousand and the many other miracles Jesus performed in His short three-year ministry.
The turbulent waters and jagged shapes of the right hand panel create a sense of frenetic unease. Whereas the peaceful serenity of the left hand panel highlights the delicate balance that underlies our environment and earthly existence. As such, Eco themes of sustainability are embroidered into the general iconography of the design.
Strawberry fields, for which Mannofield first became nationally famous, surround the Greek symbols Alpha and Omega, reminding us of the everlasting nature of our faith and the certainty that God is with us till the end of time.
Fraser Beaton December 2016
Embroidered Panel 2016
The design of the panel has been arranged to complement both the new etched glass panels and the existing stained glass windows within the chancel. It is a celebration of the various aspects of our Christian faith with reference to periods in the church calendar: the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord, set in juxtaposition with our church life at Mannofield today
The upper and lower borders incorporate trefoils representing the Trinity, the dove symbolising peace, the crown of thorns symbolising the crucifixion, alpha and omega, the beginning and the end and a shaking of hands symbolising brothers and sisters meeting in friendship and offering help to others. The lower central panel includes the name of Jesus IHS (shortened form of the Greek –ihsous) which, by inference and intent, supports the entire piece.
The side borders incorporate simple cross shapes, the symbol of our faith, and the ankh, an ancient Egyptian symbol of life and knowledge adopted by the early Christian church.
Central to the design is the cross, a reminder of the sacrifice that
Jesus made for us that we might live and have eternal life.
The four central panels, presented as in stained glass, depict the land and sea, the beauties of our natural world and the resources we harvest from it. They also depict the open fields, the rivers and seas with fish, the bountiful crops of grain and fruit and also our weather cycles.
It is intended that these images echo the many references from Biblical text e.g. the great flood including the rainbow, the fishers of men, the feeding of the five thousand, the Garden of Eden and the seed sower
Banners 2021
These banners have been dedicated to the glory of God on 5 September 2021, commssioned and gifted in honour of Chrissy Smith, long-time faithful member of Mannofield Parish Church. The artist, who both designed and created the panels is Penelope Duffy, who studied textiles at Aberdeen Gray’s School of Art in the late 80s. She has mainly been involved in theatre/dance costume design and construction ever since.
The objective in creating the banners was to provide visual stimulation throughout the year which would reflect the spirit of Mannofield church and its community. These designs needed to sit in harmony with the old and new stained glass windows and other artworks in the sanctuary. The artist also met with Chrissie as a part of the creative process, selecting themes and items that were meaningful to her to include in the design such as the daffodils and her father’s hands. Additionally, in the effort to recognize the importance of the congregation’s commitment to the environment, the backing fabrics of both banners had a former life as the communion table coverings of the Church of Scotland, Oban and Kilmore, where a friend of the artist’s Grandfather was a minster in the 1960s.
This banner reflects an uplifting sense of support and joy. The crazy patchwork replicates the stained glass of the adjacent window, and also contains elements of local Victorian architecture like the Faith banner. The large hands offering comfort are that of the Father, from which life and light appear to be born in the weightlessness of the banner, held aloft by the pairing doves. The hands shaking above, suggests unity in the congregation, friendship and fellowship, community and assistance and understanding. The baptism font frames the left-hand corner and is a visual reminder of God’s grace through baptism. The golden goblet in the upper corner mirrors it’s other half in the Faith banner suggesting partnership. The crown of thorns is now sprigged with the daffodil emblem which is repeated in each corner and connected to the celebration of the last supper and baptism. New life from death. The Grace of God in action.
This banner tells a story with interlinking symbols. The design is set on a spectrum of sunrise/sunset patchwork blocks. Featured in the hanging are: the anchor which represents the steadfastness of the faith within the congregation while the golden goblet reflects the sun’s rays and the importance of communion. The crown of thorns eclipses the goblet and casts shadows that intercept the sun’s rays. Those rays lighten the path to hope and righteousness, flanked by the immortality of the Cypress trees. The interaction of the symbols interwoven in the coupling pattern of triangles almost appear cog-like, suggesting the functionality of faith and the relationship within the church. The birds represent both freedom and direction in the vortex of life. In the foreground is the representation of the church itself, incorporating the original wooden structure from 1880’s. Also in the foreground is the ship’s wheel which represents guidance and echoes the round, spoked stained-glass window. The scroll proclaims the importance of Faith in God’s Word to the congregation.
Other points of note:
Offering Plate
Lamb and Flag: denotes sacrifice
In St John’ Gospel 1:29, John the Baptist on sighting Christ, exclaims “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world”.
The Lamb is Christ and the flag which the lamb is portrayed as carrying is of the patron saint of England, St George.
The combination of a lamb and the flag of St George was also the symbol for the Knights Templar
The Main Hall was added in 1910.
The centenary of our Church was in 1982 and the Rt. Rev. William Johnston conducted the Centenary Hall dedication service on 8th February 1981. Due to the demands on the church accommodation by the many active organisations attached to Mannofield, additional rooms were added in 1994.
The Angel window was something that former Sunday school teachers Maureen Murray, Diane Bridgeford and Gillian Slessor and their class of girls decided to create as a project in Spring 2005. “Kidzone” as it was then called wanted to make something that could be placed in the church for everyone to see.
Claire Murray, Catriona MacRae, Ellis Jamieson, Catrin Jones, Kirsten Tait and Olivia Carr were the youngsters involved. Claire found the angel design on clip art and the others approved it.
It was then enlarged to the size they required for the window.
Claire said at the window’s dedication:
“First we had the picture of the angel enlarged to the size we required for the window. Then we took our design to the SGO workshop where Mr & Mrs Stone showed us step by step how a stained glass window was formed.
The first stage was to lead the shape of the angel on to the glass which was tricky as the lead was stiff and made it hard to bend round corners. After the silhouette was in place we decided on the colours to use. Each section of the angel had a separate colour. The girls took it in turns to cut sheets of colour into the right shapes. Once all the colour was in place the glass was turned over and leaded on the other side. It was then given a last clean.”
It took four weeks in the studio and was completed in six if you count the discussions, practice samples and hanging. Throughout it all Mr. & Mrs. Stone were a great help to them
The window was installed in June 2005.
Sadly, Claire died on 22 December 2005 but the Angel window is a wonderfully fitting memorial to her.
Each year the Guild nationally chooses and works on a theme. In 1997 this was “Together for God”.
One of the suggestions from the central Guild office in Edinburgh was that each lady (only ladies were Guild members in 1997) should take to a meeting a stone or pebble which in some way represented her. Perhaps this stone came from her garden, from a favourite holiday destination, a picnic spot or a place with memories. Whatever its origins, it would have its own significance to the giver.
The idea was to set out night lights in the form of a cross and that in turn each lady placed her stone between the candles. She could then share the story behind the stone or simply put it down. The candles were then lit and by candlelight all thought and reflected on the stories – many sad, some funny, some happy occasions.
As you would expect Aberdeen is represented on the Cross by several pieces of granite but so too are many other places throughout Scotland including Iona, the cradle of Christianity in our country. There are stones also from other countries including Cyprus and the Holy Land, with stones from Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee.
Apart from places, families were also represented as we have/had in our Guild sets of sisters, mothers and daughters, showing the continuity of Christian life within our church
Be Inspired — Gift to Mannofield Kirk 17 August 2008 from John and Katharine Telfer
M.A.H. Arthur donated the Lectern in 1936.
When the chancel area was significantly altered in 1969 by the removal of the organ, choir stalls and central pulpit, a completely new organ was installed in the gallery in September by J W Walker & Sons Ltd at a cost of £7106.
For further information about J W Walker & Sons Ltd see
http://www.jwwalker.co.uk/history.html
Jubilee Booklet – A short history of Mannofield Church 1881-1932
Click here to view