The Fourth Decade (1936-1945)

Our Fourth Decade was, overwhelmingly and understandably, dominated by the Second World War. However, the decade started with the constitutional crisis, occasioned by the abdication of King Edward VIII, resulting in the coronation of his brother Albert as King George VI.

The Rev. Duncan McCorkindale’s ministry at St. Paul’s was very promising; however his failing health hindered him in bringing it to total fulfilment. Right about the outbreak of the war he was compelled to resign after a brave struggle with illness, to the great regret of all who knew him. With the prospect of the vacancy at St. Paul’s, an attempt was made towards a union between St. Paul’s and St. Luke’s churches. However, after a number of meetings, the plan was abandoned and in 1940 permission was granted to fill the vacancy.

Rev. Donald M. MacDonald, B.D.

On 23rd January 1941 the Rev. Donald M. MacDonald, B.D. became minister of St. Paul’s. He was the second son (of three) of a future Moderator of the Church of Scotland (Alexander MacDonald), and a graduate of the University of Glasgow. He was inducted as minister of St. Paul’s on 23rd January 1941, arriving from an assistantship at Dunblane Cathedral.  St. Paul’s was Mr. MacDonald’s first charge and he was elected by 276 votes for and none (!) against.

He began his ministry with great enthusiasm; the freshness of his preaching, his diligence in visiting, and his lively approach to reorganising and building up the congregation’s life was immensely encouraging to his flock. This is well illustrated in the 'Schedule' of church statistics for the year of 1941 which showed an increase in church membership from 682 to 733 and very healthy numbers in Sunday School (83), Bible Class (30) and the various organisations (Boys' Brigade = 60, Girls' Guildry (now Girls' Brigade) = 60 and Girls' Association = 21) and in the Financial Statement for that year.  Despite the demands of the war years and the somewhat unsettled case of the manse (until 1946 he occupied several residencies) his arrival brought new life and hope to the congregation.

The Kirk Session was strengthened (less than 10 elders were serving at the time!); the Congregational Board was restored to its rightful function; fresh emphasis was laid on the use of the Weekly Freewill Offering System; the various organisations - Woman’s Guild, Girl’s Association, Boys’ Brigade, Badminton Club - strengthened the congregation, while new organisations were added to them: Girl Guides (1941) and the Youth Fellowship. In June 1944, a new congregational magazine was published (Congregational News-Sheet) after a long silence since John Edgar’s Milngavie Parish Supplement. The distribution of the new church magazine initiated the office of the Lady Visitors, who faithfully continue to serve the congregation to this day. Necessary repairs (roof and main steps), and improvements to the church building (heating) were carried out in this period. The placing of flowers in church each Sunday became a regular feature and a Baptismal Font (anonymous gift) filled a long felt need.

The war brought many restrictions to the everyday life of the community and the life of the church. Many things that we take for granted today became scarce. Nevertheless the church continued to serve her Master faithfully in all aspects of life. The usual evening activities had to be moved to early afternoon because of the evening blackouts. Sunday School Picnics were restricted to nearby places because of lack of transport, even being suspended for a while because of shortage of food supplies. In 1941, instead of the Picnic, it was suggested “that each child should be given a small bag of sweets, and each teacher was asked to try and get some”!

Beside the congregational ministry, Rev. MacDonald also carried out his wartime duties in Shetland. While at St. Paul’s he remained a bachelor, but on the eve of his translation to Nairn Old in 1949, he married a Milngavie lady, Dorothy Weir.

In summary, during his ministry the congregation was revitalised and grew not only in numbers and financial ability but also in faith.

The Woman's Guild and the War Effort

The Guild, as during the First World War, was quick and hard working to support the war effort. Already in 1939 the Guild formed a War Time Work Party. During the war they dispatched many parcels and knitted 4,076 woollen “comforts” for those on service! A parcel consisted of a waistcoat, two pairs of socks, twenty cigarettes, chocolate, soap, handkerchiefs, and a greeting card from the Guild. Above and beyond these, they loyally supported the Red Cross, Navy League and the Territorials.

A Diversion - Seat Letting or 'Pew Rent'

Seat letting, or, as it was also known, 'pew rent', seems a distant and unfair practice to us today. However this was once common throughout the churches. As in other churches in the past, so in St. Paul's there was a rent paid for the seat, or pew, one took in church. This pew renting was an expression of one's church membership. The better the seat the higher the rent was for it too! The rent was paid quarterly and if someone missed a payment, his or her seat could be lost. People who could not pay for their seats were seated by special arrangement. Visitors were accompanied by someone on duty and were shown to a free seat. If pew holders found their seats occupied by someone else they notified the person on duty, who had the seat vacated. Seating plans and the Seat Letting Book indicated which seats were let out.

Church Halls

In 1940 the Burgh Hall, the home of many social events, which was on the site of the present Town Hall, burnt down. The Town Council leased St. Paul's Church Halls (the Old Kirk) to continue with the usual activities. This situation considerably hindered the life of the church, since she had the use of the halls only on Sundays, Mondays, one other week day and on Saturday afternoons. All other times the halls were used by the Council. One room was used for Council meetings and for the Police Court. During the war the British Restaurant used the Lesser Hall downstairs. This 'partnership', which lasted for decades, was not free of disagreements. The Congregational Board objected to certain activities in the halls - dancing, for instance - but the Council felt that such restrictions would considerably limit their desire to administer a hall for the benefit of the general public.

British Restaurants were part of the public feeding programme in World War 2. They were set up by local authorities to provide cheap, fixed price meals. There were many thousands of these across the U.K. Special tokens were used as part of a pre-payment system which avoided the need for serving staff to handle money. (Further information on 'British Restaurants')

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The Churches

The war years brought the churches closer together in Milngavie. United services took place during the summer and united Holy Week services also began at this time.

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1945 - Cessation of Hostilities

Thankfully, 1945 saw the end of the war, firstly in Europe and then with Japan.  The nation's thanksgiving was expressed in church services throughout the land and St. Paul's was the venue for the celebration in Milngavie. 

Undoubtedly this had been a very hard period for all. The congregation nevertheless showed great faith and determination in facing every challenge with the strength they received from their God and Saviour. Thus they not only survived but even grew in grace giving true witness to the goodness of their Lord.

Many difficulties and privations were to lie ahead of our nation and our community in the post-war years but the bloodshed had ceased and our church, like the nation, looked forward with renewed hope.

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