What we believe:
We believe that God is our creator and he wants us have a personal relationship with him.
We believe that Jesus Christ is our Saviour.
We believe that we are called to spread the Word of God and to do that we must be a missionary church.
In St Mark's, we believe in faith in action and have put that in the form of a vision statement.
Our vision is:
To build a congregation with an active faith- committed to worship and learning, within a loving, Christian fellowship encompassing people of all ages.
To reach out and meet the spiritual, practical and social needs of the congregation and community.
To encourage people of the community to become involved in the life and work of the Church and to develop a personal relationship with Christ.
Where we are:
We are a church community in the Ralston area of Paisley. We are about 2 miles east from the center of Paisley and border Glasgow to the east.
Sonia Blakesley
Minister
Peter Blair
Church Worker
Fiona Stirling
Church Secretary
Eileen Wilkie
Safeguarding Coordinator
Stuart Christie
Marksman Editor
Meena Patel
Cafe Manager
The History of St Mark's Oldhall
Early Beginnings
Foundation Stone OOS
In 1933 it was first discussed by the Presbytery of Pailsey to build a church for the rapidly growing area of Ralston. The building of St Mark's church began in 1935 as an Church Extension charge, with the first sod cut on the 23rd April. The ceremony for the Laying of the Foundation Stone took place on Wednesday 25th March 1936. Sir Hugh Shaw-Stewart laid the foundation stone, the Rev. Robert Aitken (Moderator of the Presbytery) then marked the stone for the stone mason to cut a cross in it.
Dedication of St Mark's
On completion of the building of the church a service of dedication was held on the 15th April 1937. The service was conducted by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Professor Daniel Lamont assisted by members of the presbytery.
The Moderator had to knock on the door three times before being admitted to bless the building and read out seven scriptures relating to the life of the church.
The church was designed by Andrew Balfour of Balfour and Stewart and in the end cost £11,426.
The Moderator had to knock on the door three times before being admitted to bless the building and read out seven scriptures relating to the life of the church.
The church was designed by Andrew Balfour of Balfour and Stewart and in the end cost £11,426.
Mr. R. Cameron, church officer, Rev Sawyer, Rt. Rev Daniel Lamont
Dedication Program
Rev Gilbert M. George
After the church was dedicated on the 15th April 1937 there was the induction service of Reverend Gilbert M. George on the 22nd April. The following night a reception was held to welcome Mr. George.
The Rev. David Swan of Maybole Old Parish Church conducted worship at 11am on Sunday the 25th April and he introduced Mr George. The Rev George took his first service in the church that evening at the 6.30pm service.
Under his leadership the church had its first Communion service on the 24th October 1937 with the church roll of 503. In 1940 the church was granted full status on the 1st July in the "Deed of Constitution of the Church and Parish Quoad Sacra of St Mark's Oldhall."
The Rev. David Swan of Maybole Old Parish Church conducted worship at 11am on Sunday the 25th April and he introduced Mr George. The Rev George took his first service in the church that evening at the 6.30pm service.
Under his leadership the church had its first Communion service on the 24th October 1937 with the church roll of 503. In 1940 the church was granted full status on the 1st July in the "Deed of Constitution of the Church and Parish Quoad Sacra of St Mark's Oldhall."
As the war continued the church hall was a Rest Centre if needed and a services canteen was set up providing 37,000 meals in 10 months. The church saw an increase in membership with the building of houses in Penilee. In 1943 a student minister, John McQuarrie, was appointed to do work in Penilee with plans for a Church and hall to be built in Penilee. By the end of 1944 the roll of St Mark's stood at 876 with 111 on military service.
On the 9th May 1945 a Victory Thanksgiving Service was held.
St Mark's were still heavily involved in the development of the church in Penilee and on the 28th February 1946 it was officially opened. A year later it was granted Church Extension status relieving St Mark's of much of its responsibility to the church in Penilee.
In 1954 two stained glass windows, designed by Douglas Hamilton, were installed in the chancel. The Resurrection window was gifted by Mr Wells in memory of his wife and the Nativity window was gifted by Mr Ernest George (father of Rev George) in memory of his grand-daughter Ada who was knocked down on Glasgow Road. The third chancel window was created a year later and the Baptism window was donated by Mrs. McLay in memory of her husband.
With funds raised by the Sunday School and the congregation the "Lakeside" stained glass window was installed in 1960 and dedicated to the memory of Mr Thomson, the first Sunday School Superintendent. The wooden cross which hangs over the west Trancept was donated by Mr and Mrs George.
At the end of 1973 Rev George retired, having served at St Mark's faithfully for thirty-six years.
Induction Order of Service
First Edition of the Marksman