St Oswald’s Episcopal Church 125^th Anniversary Celebrations

Rev. William Scott Wilson who was the Rector to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Ayr, founded our congregation in 1847.  The congregation were English and Irish weavers who worked in the main industry of the town at that time, working with handlooms in their homes, making fine cloth.  There were 400 Episcopalians in poor and humble circumstances, as recorded by the Parish minister. For many years the congregation met in a room on Abbot Street near the Collegiate Church. The clergy of Girvan served them, where the church had a similar background. The weaving industry declined and workers turned to shoemaking as the main occupation.

However it was not until 1883 that we had a building of our own, so this year we celebrate the 125^th anniversary of its opening and consecration.

By 1883 the congregation had established itself and also a school under the ministry of Rev William R Gallacher, Rector in Girvan, who gained agreement from Rev W S Wilson who was by then the bishop, to the building of a permanent church on land gifted by the Cassillis Estate. The Marchioness of Ailsa is believed to have been a benefactor.  St Oswald’s was dedicated on 18^th December 1883 by the bishop.

On Thursday 18^th December at 11.00am we are holding a special Service of Thanksgiving.  This will not be a Communion service and we hope that friends from other churches in Maybole will come along.

On Sunday 21^st December the Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway Diocese, Bishop Idris Jones will be the Celebrant and Preacher at our 11.30am Eucharist.  This will be followed by a “bring and share” lunch in the church hall.  Again we extend a warm welcome to the whole community of Maybole.

There is also an exhibition in the hall detailing the history of the building and its congregation.  There are lots of interesting photographs and we hope you will enjoy trying to identify a few old – and not so old – faces.

We look forward to welcoming as many as our little church can squeeze in.