Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday 30 August for our very first official gig, ‘Lochwinnoch Unplugged‘ at Lochwinnoch Parish Church. The day was a great success! At least one hundred of you came through the doors of a building that has been at the heart of the village for more than two centuries. And together, we closed one chapter and celebrated the opening of another.
Honouring what came before
Before the music began, we took a moment to look back. When the Parish Church closed its doors in the spring of 2020, there had been no time for a closing ceremony. So, to pay respect to its original purpose, we held a Service of Thanksgiving and Leave-Taking led by Christine Murdoch, the church’s former minister. Many former members of its congregation turned up to pay tribute to memories from its long history – all the services, celebrations, ceremonies and moments of reflection that have taken place in the church.
Hitting the right notes
After a few words from our Chair, Diarmid Harris, our very first gig was officially underway at Lochwinnoch Parish Church. And then, ten brilliant local acts took to the stage in the Sanctuary Hall. They offered everything from spoken word to brand-new originals to good old sing-along hits. A huge thank you to all the acts for putting on such a fantastic performance – Outi Karhu, Howlin’ Radio, Fran Schoppler, the Rural Renfrewshire Guitar Club, the Lochwinnoch Singers, Paul Cameron, Down on the Corner, Pauline Vallance and the Small Fezzes Ukulele Band – and to Shaun Moore, the Tannahill Makar, who shared his poetry between sets. Special thanks to Crawford Smith, who organised and coordinated all of the music for the event.
Something for everyone
Over in the Gothic Hall, there was a fun-packed programme of kids’ activities. Between the colouring wall, the LEGO corner and the face painting, creativity was in full flow. The outdoors proved the biggest draw, with NatureFix running nature craft workshops. The Morffledoos treasure hunt sent little explorers across the grounds. And there was even some outdoor samba dancing to keep the energy up during the interval! A big thanks to Iona Quickfall, who led and organised the children’s activities. The wee ones were kept entertained throughout the afternoon.
We are so grateful to our wonderful team of volunteers, who worked behind the scenes in preparation for the event. And a special thanks to Lochwinnoch Arts Festival, who managed the door, ticket sales and raffle. Finally, we would like to thank all the local businesses, who generously donated to the raffle and supported the event.
Why this day mattered
It was the first glimpse of what we hope the Parish Church can become for Lochwinnoch: a vibrant community hub. We hope it will be a welcoming creative space that brings people together and supports local groups, while celebrating its history and heritage. We’re making progress towards that vision, with some possible funding in sight. Nevertheless, community support is what will carry the project to the finish line.
What’s next?
Lochwinnoch Unplugged was a preview of, hopefully, many more events to come at Lochwinnoch Parish Church. We’d love for you to be the first to know about them. The best way to stay in the loop is to sign up to our newsletter or become a member. It’s quick and simple, and it means you’ll never miss what’s coming next:
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and shared in the day. We can’t wait to see you at the next event!
