About 200 people visited the Arthur Memorial Display held in New Cumnock Parish Church to view the contents of the Time Capsules of 1912 and 1843 found in the wall of the now demolished Church.

With a great deal of help from many people including Bobby Guthrie, Jason Sutcliffe of East Ayrshire Leisure, Lindsay McClounie, Rab Wilson, Morag Shankland, EAC Vibrant Communities and a grant from New Cumnock Community Energy Fund, a small but enthusiastic Display Team set out the contents of the Time Capsule, told its story through and the story of the more recent years of Arthur Memorial. The Display was enriched and enlivened by stories and photographs from a number of former members or friends of the Church.

The Time Capsule was officially opened and dedicated during the Boys and Girls Brigade enrolment by some of the young people and members of the Sunday School.

On Sunday, November 1 (All saints day), the service centred on ‘All the saints’, especially those whose faithfulness was shown in Arthur Memorial and other New Cumnock Churches.

At a well-attended gathering in New Cumnock Parish Church on the Friday evening of the Display, Bobby Guthrie gave a presentation on the history of the Church in New Cumnock, from its origins through to the building of the Free Church (1843) and its successor the Arthur Memorial Church (1912) on the Castle-hill. Bobby lives in Barrhead but his heart is in New Cumnock where he is often asked to speak on many aspects of local history as well as the Time Capsule’s contents.

All those who attended appreciated Bobby’s presentation and came away feeling that New Cumnock has a Heritage worth preserving.In closing Bobby thanked the group for their painstaking efforts in putting together the display. He commented “following the success of the WWI display in the church last year and now the Arthur Memorial display this year, the group have developed a truly powerful process that engages the community in many aspects of preserving and sharing our heritage –including the marvellous response from people happy to provide photos, family documents, stories and memories. It would be fitting if the group’s efforts and contribution could be formally recognised.

The Display came to a fitting end with an ‘Indoor Pilgrimage’, travelling around the Display with praise, scripture, thoughts and prayers until the Iona Cross rescued from the top of Arthur Memorial Church was reached. As the Minister, Rev Helen Cuthbert later commented,’ Memory Lane is one of the busiest streets on the planet, a place where many people find much comfort and also, as with every other street we find ourselves in, a place where God is with us and faith can be found. The Display team were very encouraged by the response and hope that the new Heritage Centre planned for New Cumnock will be a place that befits a town with so much deep, rich history.