Hillington Park Church on Berryknowes Road, Cardonald, will mark its 100 years of witness in the community in 2008. Already the 350 members have committed to raising £50,000 to refurbish their three halls.

‘We start fund raising with our Christmas Market which was planned for Saturday November 25,’ said Ian Burns one of the Church Elders.

He continued, ‘Our halls are part of community life and are widely used by more than three times our membership.’ There is a thriving Rosie and Jim Toddlers group, an After School Group, a film club, community café providing hot meals for the elderly, a thriving Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade as well as many other activities.

The Market was launched with a Christmas procession led by Renfrew North Youth Pipe Band. Santa was a special guest and local man John MacKay who is STV anchorman and newsreader opened the Fair. Through the Council, the trees outside the Church is decorated with Christmas lights.

But another Cardonald church has already celebrated its 100 years of mission – Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. The convent Nazareth House opened in 1906 to care for 250 ‘destitute orphans, incurable children and aged men and women.’ A new church was completed in 1922 and is now the church hall. The present church was opened on May 26, 1939.

To mark the centenary, a large group of parishioners went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the spring.

In October Archbishop Mario Conti was present for a Mass of Thanksgiving.