The story so far
The first minister of Northfield Parish, Rev.Duncan McKenzie Bruce, was inducted to the charge on 30 September 1951. Following the Service of Induction some 20 people intimated their desire to be associated with the new congregation of Northfield.
A meeting of Aberdeen Presbytery on 2 Oct 1951 approved the appointment of five Assessor Elders to serve on the Kirk Session of Northfield. Those appointed were Dr. R.F. Twort & Mr. A Thomson from Carden Place congregation and Messrs. F Allardyce , J Clark , J Wood , from Bucksburn congregation. Presbytery also approved the Boundaries of the new Parish of Northfield.
The first constituted meeting of the Kirk Session took place on 15 October 1951 at 3 Deansloch Terrace, Northfield. The Moderator and four of the Assessor Elders were present. A preliminary meeting had taken place on 9 October at which Mr A Thomson was appointed Session Clerk and Interim Treasurer. The first members of the congregation of Northfield appointed to the Session were admitted in October 1953.
October 1951 also saw the beginning of the Youth Work in the congregation with the commencement of the Sunday Schools and with Life Boys, Boys' Brigade and Girls' Guildry all started. All this was only made possible with help from the Local Education Authority and Middlefield Church who granted the use of their buildings for some of these activities.
Numbers in the Sunday Schools became so large that they were held in first two, and then three, local schools and then also in the local Community Centre, as well as in the Church. At one point Northfield had the largest Sunday School in Scotland with well over 1,500 children!
The Sacrament of Baptism was first administered by Rev.D.M.Bruce on 4 November 1951 at the Sunday School. 12 children were baptised that day, 6girls & 6boys.
January 1952 saw the first names on the Communion Roll - the minister + 4 others - and on 27 April 1952 the first Communion Service was celebrated in the 'Hut Church'.
On 28 April 1952 the Congregational Board was formed.
In April 1955 the Woman's Guild began. This was formed out of the existing weekly Womens Meeting which had begun in Feb.1952 .
The congregation of Northfield was granted full status as a Parish Church by the General Assembly of the Church on 24 May 1961.
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In 2001 Northfield Parish Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
The theme for the Anniversary Year was 'Looking Forward in Faith'.
Some special events took place during the year to help us celebrate this milestone.
At the end of 2000 a simple 'Anniversary' CALENDAR was produced.
Events during 2001 included:-
A fund-raiser LUNCH in April : A Church Family PICNIC in June : and at the end of September, a FLOWER FESTIVAL and GIVING DAYS in the Church with AFTERNOON TEA and a DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS in the Church Hall.
In 2001 Northfield Parish Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
The theme for the Anniversary Year was 'Looking Forward in Faith'.
Some special events took place during the year to help us celebrate this milestone.
At the end of 2000 a simple 'Anniversary' CALENDAR was produced.
Events during 2001 included:-
A fund-raiser LUNCH in April : A Church Family PICNIC in June : and at the end of September, a FLOWER FESTIVAL and GIVING DAYS in the Church with AFTERNOON TEA and a DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS in the Church Hall.
On Sunday 30th September we held a special 50th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE.
The congregation included the Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, our local MSP, the then oldest member of the congregation - Mrs Lizzie Montgomery aged 103 yrs, the youngest - baby Michael Creighton who had just been baptised on 9 September, and many other visitors & friends and past & present members of the church. Each of the surviving past ministers of Northfield Parish also attended and prayers were led by Rev.Ross Flockhart and Rev.David Anderson. Teas and Anniversary Cake were then served in the Church Hall, after the Service.
The last of our special events was a CONCERT in November when members and friends from within and outwith the congregation presented a varied programme of entertainment with something for everyone.
The congregation included the Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, our local MSP, the then oldest member of the congregation - Mrs Lizzie Montgomery aged 103 yrs, the youngest - baby Michael Creighton who had just been baptised on 9 September, and many other visitors & friends and past & present members of the church. Each of the surviving past ministers of Northfield Parish also attended and prayers were led by Rev.Ross Flockhart and Rev.David Anderson. Teas and Anniversary Cake were then served in the Church Hall, after the Service.
The last of our special events was a CONCERT in November when members and friends from within and outwith the congregation presented a varied programme of entertainment with something for everyone.
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Ministers
The first minister of Northfield Parish Church was Rev.Duncan M. Bruce.
Mr Bruce was inducted to the charge at a service held in Middlefield Parish Church on 30 September 1951. He was minister at Northfield until June 1958.
Over the years since, Northfield has had six other ministers with varying lengths of service.
The first minister of Northfield Parish Church was Rev.Duncan M. Bruce.
Mr Bruce was inducted to the charge at a service held in Middlefield Parish Church on 30 September 1951. He was minister at Northfield until June 1958.
Over the years since, Northfield has had six other ministers with varying lengths of service.
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Rev.Duncan M. Bruce (1951 -1958) |
Rev.Ross Flockhart (1958 -1963) |
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Rev.Robert Carmont (1964 -1968) |
Rev.William S. Whitson (1968 -1972) |
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Rev. James Scott (1973 -1992) |
Rev. David Anderson (1992 -1997) |
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The present minister, Rev. Scott C. Guy was inducted on 17 December 1998.
Northfield was also blessed by the service of three Deaconesses of the Church of Scotland - Miss Mary Rhind who served from 1953 -1962 , Mrs Nan Bryden who served from 1962 -1970 and Miss Moyra McCallum who served from 1970 -1971. In September 1995 Mr Duncan Ross was appointed as Parish Assistant at Northfield and was commissioned as a Deacon in February 1997. Duncan left in December 2005 when his wife was appointed minister of a Parish Church in Cambuslang.
During its short history the Kirk Session of Northfield has been served by six Session Clerks. The six gentlemen were Alexander Thomson , Andrew F.Moir , Douglas Haig , James Duncan , Edward Brown , and the present Session Clerk Mike Ross.
Northfield was also blessed by the service of three Deaconesses of the Church of Scotland - Miss Mary Rhind who served from 1953 -1962 , Mrs Nan Bryden who served from 1962 -1970 and Miss Moyra McCallum who served from 1970 -1971. In September 1995 Mr Duncan Ross was appointed as Parish Assistant at Northfield and was commissioned as a Deacon in February 1997. Duncan left in December 2005 when his wife was appointed minister of a Parish Church in Cambuslang.
During its short history the Kirk Session of Northfield has been served by six Session Clerks. The six gentlemen were Alexander Thomson , Andrew F.Moir , Douglas Haig , James Duncan , Edward Brown , and the present Session Clerk Mike Ross.
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The Church Buildings
The original church building was a wooden 'hut', built in 1951.
This was erected on the site which is now occupied by the St.Aubin's Project home at no.17 Westerton Crescent. The 'Hut Church' had seating for 80-90 people.
On 27 August 1952 the foundation stone for a new 'Hall Church' was laid by Rev.P.C.Millar. Placed within the stone were:- a newspaper for 26 Aug.1952 plus some earlier newspaper cuttings ; Orders of Service for 17 Feb.1952 and 27 Aug.1952 ; letters from the Lord Provost and the Presbytery Clerk ; a copy of the first Church Magazine ; a photograph of Rev.Duncan Bruce, the first minister of Northfield Parish ; a note of the boundaries of the parish ; names of the Office-bearers, the leaders of the church organisations, and a list of members ; some coins of the period ; and several other messages of goodwill.
The original church building was a wooden 'hut', built in 1951.
This was erected on the site which is now occupied by the St.Aubin's Project home at no.17 Westerton Crescent. The 'Hut Church' had seating for 80-90 people.
On 27 August 1952 the foundation stone for a new 'Hall Church' was laid by Rev.P.C.Millar. Placed within the stone were:- a newspaper for 26 Aug.1952 plus some earlier newspaper cuttings ; Orders of Service for 17 Feb.1952 and 27 Aug.1952 ; letters from the Lord Provost and the Presbytery Clerk ; a copy of the first Church Magazine ; a photograph of Rev.Duncan Bruce, the first minister of Northfield Parish ; a note of the boundaries of the parish ; names of the Office-bearers, the leaders of the church organisations, and a list of members ; some coins of the period ; and several other messages of goodwill.
The stone can be viewed on the outside northern wall of the building.
In September 1953 the 'Hall Church' was visited by H.M.Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who planted a tree in the church grounds. The 'Hall Church' was dedicated for use on 6 December 1953. The buildings comprised a main hall, used for worship and other activities, a small hall, which was sometimes used as overflow accomodation for services, plus a kitchen and toilets. Seating capacity of the Hall Church, including overflow, was 320.
In September 1953 the 'Hall Church' was visited by H.M.Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who planted a tree in the church grounds. The 'Hall Church' was dedicated for use on 6 December 1953. The buildings comprised a main hall, used for worship and other activities, a small hall, which was sometimes used as overflow accomodation for services, plus a kitchen and toilets. Seating capacity of the Hall Church, including overflow, was 320.
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The foundation stone for the present main sanctuary was not laid by Rev.Professor John M. Graham,
then Lord Provost of Aberdeen on 17 November 1963, as stated on the stone.
Due to serious illness Professor Graham was unable to attend the ceremony
and the stone was graciously laid by his wife, Mrs Graham.
A small 2-manual(+pedals) pipe organ was brought
from Fairnielee House in Galashiels and installed as
an integral part of the new(present) building.
The church bell originally belonged to a country church(now closed) in Tarves.
The seating capacity of the main sanctuary is 500.
The building was dedicated for use by Professor J.M. Graham on 6 September 1964. This occasion is recorded on another stone which is situated on the western wall of the building, close to the present church hall entrance.
In 1994 a new pitched roof was put on the main building. The original flat roof was often found to leak in wet weather! An integral part of the new roof is the triangular window feature at the front of the building. The glass is coloured and is back-lit in the evenings during winter months, providing something of a local landmark.
A small 2-manual(+pedals) pipe organ was brought
from Fairnielee House in Galashiels and installed as
an integral part of the new(present) building. The church bell originally belonged to a country church(now closed) in Tarves.
The seating capacity of the main sanctuary is 500.
The building was dedicated for use by Professor J.M. Graham on 6 September 1964. This occasion is recorded on another stone which is situated on the western wall of the building, close to the present church hall entrance.
In 1994 a new pitched roof was put on the main building. The original flat roof was often found to leak in wet weather! An integral part of the new roof is the triangular window feature at the front of the building. The glass is coloured and is back-lit in the evenings during winter months, providing something of a local landmark.