Mearns kirk celebrates 200 years with summer fete

Instead, the Newton Mearns parish church marks its bicentenary with the latest in a series of events celebrating 200 years in the community.

The main event is a church fete, taking place on the Glebe on Saturday, June 15.

MP Jim Murphy will open proceedings at 1pm, followed by a dog show with prizes for the waggiest tail, best six legs (that’s owner and dog), an odd couple and a golden oldie — to name a few.

The summer fete will also feature mini golf, tea cup rides and bouncy castle, coconut shy and welly boot-throwing, as well as beat the goalie.

There will be a tearoom, sweet stalls and home baking, jams and chutneys for sale, as well as stalls selling second hand books, toys and old and new jewellery.

Free shuttle buses will be running to and from Mearns Castle high car parks all afternoon until 5pm, and drivers can also use a pick up and drop off point to set down passengers.

Marianne MacGregor, of the Mearns Kirk 2013 celebration team, told The Extra: “I can hardly believe our first event, the art competition, was more than a year ago.

“Our bicentenary celebrations have been going well so far, and we’re halfway through the year already.

“The dog competition will no doubt be very popular with families, and we hope lots of people will come along and enjoy themselves on the 
day.”

The bicentenary celebrates 200 years since the main building of Mearns Kirk was built, in 1813.

The church began to mark the occasion last year, by inviting the area’s nine schools to take part in a logo design competition — pictured left is the winning entry, by Mearns Castle pupil Eilidh McMurdo.

Speaking after last year’s event, Mearns kirk elder Gordon Wilson told The Extra: “We want to make the church more of a community interest, rather than just a 
congregation.”

To find out more about the fete call Marianne on 639 
6972.