Rededication of Papa Stour Kirk Saturday 16th September 2006
Islanders and visitors, some from as far away as Bigton, came together on Saturday 16th Septmber 2006 to join in a service of rededication and celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Papa Stour Kirk. It was a joyous occasion. The Kirk was last used in September 2003 and for the past two years has been under lock and key whilst waiting for urgent repairs to be carried out. Thanks to the generosity of the Church of Scotland Trustees work was carried out this summer and the Kirk can once again be used. There was an atmosphere of warmth, oneness and expectancy inside the Kirk as folk waited for the service to begin. There were fresh flowers, a new red carpet along the central aisle and lighted candles. Boarding put up to protect the War Memorial Stained Glass Window had been removed.
The service was led by the Rev Tom Macintyre, minister for the Parish of Walls and Sandness which includes Foula and Papa Stour. He spoke first to the children, telling the story of the wise man who built his house upon the rock. A childrens’chorus followed with everyone joining in, complete with actions. The service progressed with the singing of well known hymns led by Andy Holt Brook on the guitar. There were two scripture readings read by members of the congregation. Tom spoke of the importance of church buildings as places of worship yet explained that God is not confined to just bricks and mortar. He is everywhere all the time.
George Peterson gave us a brief history of the Kirk, from its building in 1806 up to the present day. When first built, the Kirk had a thatched roof. Tradition tells that there was a door in both gable ends and those married in the Kirk entered by the east gable and departed through the west. It is recorded that repairs to the Kirk took place in 1895 and again in 1930 when fine shingle was transported by ponies from Dutch Loch for the harling.
After the Act of Rededication, Denis Shepherd, last resident minister in Papa Stour from 1962 to 1970, brought greetings from the Westside Churches. He spoke of happy memories of his time in Papa. A message from Tavish Scott in which he said ‘I hope that today’s rededication service will not just rededicate the building, the brick and mortar, but will also strengthen the whole Papa community on which the future of the island depends’ was read out. An offering for the repair and upkeep of the War Memorial Window realised £220. This window is the only surviving example of Victor Noble Rainbird’s work and illustrates Jesus calming the storm.
After the final hymn everyone went outside for a symbolic ringing of the bell. As the Kirk bell itself cannot be used the three children present each rang a hand bell to signify to the world and the community the commitment of the church to the future.