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Larkhall churches unite in bid to eradicate sectarian image once and for all - Hamilton Advertiser
Larkhall churches unite in bid to eradicate sectarian image once and for all
Apr 9 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser
AROUND 300 people marched through Larkhall on Sunday in a bid to rid the town of its sectarian image.
A six-foot wooden cross was borne by Catholics and Protestants from around six different churches in the town.
The 300 ecumenical marchers used the Easter imagery to fight the towns reputation for bigotry.
The gathering walked the one-and-half-mile route from Chalmers Church in Strutherhill to St Marys Catholic Church in the Raploch area of the town, via Larkhall Baptist Church and St Machans Church, The Congregational Church and Trinty Church.
Larkhall has a reputation of hating all things green.
More than 200 traffic light lenses, the majority of them green, had been vandalised in a three-year period at a cost of 16,800.
This act prompted South Lanarkshire Council to install wire grilles over the lenses in a bid to prevent them being vandalised or stolen following the 2.8m regeneration of the town centre.
Father John Irons, of St Marys Roman Catholic Church, said sectarianism is no longer welcome anywhere in Scotland.
He added: Yes, Larkhall suffers from, at times, an unwarranted negative image.
We know the good things which happen here.
When there is integration, people work hard together.
The Rev. Dr Cameron McPherson, minister of Dalserf Church of Scotland, agreed with these sentiments.
He added: Today (Sunday) is a demonstration of unity.
We have had joint services for years and have worked very hard together.
The two-hour procession halted only to pop into each of six churches along the route.
The marchers taking part represented the full spectrum of Christianity in the town and culminated with a barbecue held at St Marys Church.
Catholic mum Kirsty Nutt (38), who lives in the town, said:There are a lot of negatives here so today (Sunday) is about trying to break through them.
I am married to a non-Catholic so religion is never an issue in our house.
Protestant marcher Linda Findlay (52) added: Larkhall is a good place to live.
I moved here from Hamilton 30 years ago so it cant be all that bad.
Tomorrow (Friday), Trinty Church in Larkhall will be open for private prayer and meditation from noon till 1pm.
The church host the joint service for Easter Sunday at 6.30pm.
Larkhall churches unite in bid to eradicate sectarian image once and for all
Apr 9 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser
AROUND 300 people marched through Larkhall on Sunday in a bid to rid the town of its sectarian image.
A six-foot wooden cross was borne by Catholics and Protestants from around six different churches in the town.
The 300 ecumenical marchers used the Easter imagery to fight the towns reputation for bigotry.
The gathering walked the one-and-half-mile route from Chalmers Church in Strutherhill to St Marys Catholic Church in the Raploch area of the town, via Larkhall Baptist Church and St Machans Church, The Congregational Church and Trinty Church.
Larkhall has a reputation of hating all things green.
More than 200 traffic light lenses, the majority of them green, had been vandalised in a three-year period at a cost of 16,800.
This act prompted South Lanarkshire Council to install wire grilles over the lenses in a bid to prevent them being vandalised or stolen following the 2.8m regeneration of the town centre.
Father John Irons, of St Marys Roman Catholic Church, said sectarianism is no longer welcome anywhere in Scotland.
He added: Yes, Larkhall suffers from, at times, an unwarranted negative image.
We know the good things which happen here.
When there is integration, people work hard together.
The Rev. Dr Cameron McPherson, minister of Dalserf Church of Scotland, agreed with these sentiments.
He added: Today (Sunday) is a demonstration of unity.
We have had joint services for years and have worked very hard together.
The two-hour procession halted only to pop into each of six churches along the route.
The marchers taking part represented the full spectrum of Christianity in the town and culminated with a barbecue held at St Marys Church.
Catholic mum Kirsty Nutt (38), who lives in the town, said:There are a lot of negatives here so today (Sunday) is about trying to break through them.
I am married to a non-Catholic so religion is never an issue in our house.
Protestant marcher Linda Findlay (52) added: Larkhall is a good place to live.
I moved here from Hamilton 30 years ago so it cant be all that bad.
Tomorrow (Friday), Trinty Church in Larkhall will be open for private prayer and meditation from noon till 1pm.
The church host the joint service for Easter Sunday at 6.30pm.
