St Leonards Parish Church St Andrews

Centenary

Centenary History Booklet Architecture Page

Centenary Appeal

During 2004 the congregation of St Leonard‘s Parish Church celebrated the centenary of the Church on the site at the corner of Hepburn Gardens/Donaldson Gardens in St Andrews.
A Centenary Appeal with a target of £24,000 was launched at the beginning of 2004 and donations were received throughout the year resulting in the magnificent total of £40,400 being raised. Half of this amount was used to purchase a bell for the church tower and also to provide pew cushions to make the seating in the church more comfortable and the church more welcoming.
The other half of the total raised (£20,200) was handed over on Sunday 30 January 2005, 'Homelessness Sunday', to the Rev Maxwell Craig, chairman of Scottish Churches Housing Agency, for homeless people in Scotland. Mr Craig revealed that this was the largest single donation which the Housing Agency had ever received.

Following the success of the Centenary Appeal a bell and cushions for the pews in the church were purchased

This photograph of the bell was taken as it lay in Donaldson Gardens just before being lifted up by a large crane and installed in the tower of the church on 26 May 2005.
Weighing half a ton, the bell was cast in 1765, first rung in 1766 and was formerly located in a church in Somerset.

The bell will be rung in St Leonard's Church before services and for special occasions, including weddings. It was first rung in celebration of a wedding on 4 June 2005

At present there is no photograph but the following is a description of the pew cushions which appeared in the St Leonard's & Cameron newsletter for June 2005:

Are You Sitting Comfortably . . . ?

The cushions are made from firm density 2• combustion modified foam, covered with a contract quality fabric and zipped along the back edge. The fabric and fillings comply with Fire Retardant regulations and are suitable for heavy-wear usage. Because all our pews are curved at both ends we are able to have fabric on both sides of the cushions, thus making them completely reversible. The buttoning at 15•-24• intervals will help to keep the fabric in place.
We obtained 3 estimates for the supply and the Board decided that Ayr Upholstery Ltd should be given the order. They are a small but enthusiastic family business who have been manufacturing pew cushions for many years. The company do not come out to measure — so the sub-committee had the job of measuring all 78 pews and providing a template for the curved ends. In the case of the Apse, we sent the existing felts to the manufacturer so that they could replicate the curve. All those who sit in the Apse will be pleased to know that the cushions will definitely provide a warmer feel to the stone seating!
The choice of colour was very difficult. The Church has greyish sandstone walls, medium oak pews, red terracotta floor tiles - and very little daylight. There were 60 shades on the shade card and it is not an exaggeration to say we considered them all. In the end our committee agreed unanimously on the colour — a beautiful blue called Clipper‘ — which we feel is rich, traditional and enhances the predominant colour in our beautiful stained glass windows. The Board sanctioned expenditure from the Fabric Fund for the new velvet curtains at the East door and also the — shortly to be laid — new carpeting at the Communion Table and Pulpit steps. We do hope you like the result!

A very big thank-you to the sub-committee for their hard work and enthusiasm and also to the willing team who helped us with the installation.
Muriel Gray, Congregational Board.

St Leonard‘s Centenary History Booklet

Many interesting facts about the history and congregation of St Leonard‘s Church especially during the past 100 years, are available in the St Leonard‘s Centenary History Booklet by Glen Pride, a retired architect. The booklet is on sale to the general public and copies may be obtained by contacting the Church Office (see the Information page). All prožts will go to Church Funds.
The front cover of the booklet is shown on the left (two-thirds actual size).

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