A SIGNIFICANT church service will take place in Moffat this weekend.
For Sunday will see the congregations of the churches of St Andrew’s Moffat, Kirkpatrick Juxta and Wamphray join together at 10.30 am to worship for the first time as members of the new combined Parish of Upper Annandale.
The occasion will be all the more special as it will mark the reopening of the much-loved St Andrew’s Church building in Moffat, in its newly renovated form following major upgrading works, under the title of Upper Annandale Parish Church.
The service will provide the opportunity to see the transformation which has taken place within the church building to equip it for the future.
Parish minister Rev Elsie Macrae said: “This opening service gives us an opportunity to recognise and give thanks for all that our individual churches have done in the past in serving their communities and to join together in a spirit of renewal as we look to the future.
“In doing so we are encouraged by the strength of our shared friendship and the goodwill which has been demonstrated during past months.
“This service, as are all of our services, is open to all and we extend a warm welcome to everyone within the wider community to attend, as we pledge our shared commitment to all in Upper Annandale.”
An open day is also planned on Saturday September 16 for all to see and appreciate the new interior, which elders hope will accommodate many types of community activity over the years to come.