Our former and much-respected minister, the late Reverend Jim Grady has been honoured by a newly-opened memorial garden.

Councillor Jim McCabe, Stewart Grady, Jill Radigan and Reverend Les Brunger at The Grady Memorial Garden Opening

The Grady Memorial Garden has been created from what had been waste ground to the rear of the Extension Hall and is intended to be used by the whole community.

It was opened following our Dedication and Harvest Service on 20th October 2013 by Rev. Grady’s son Stewart – who is our Session Clerk – and his daughter Jill Radigan.

Pathways, shrubs and herbaceous borders and trees are all included in the garden, which it’s hoped many local people and members of the congregation will use as a space for quiet reflection and prayer.

Stewart, clearly moved by the spirited turnout from local people at the opening ceremony, said the garden represented the best possible use of what had been a vacant site.

“It is a place where hopefully people will be able to find some quiet amid these pleasant surroundings,” he said.

“It will also no doubt prove ideal for all manner of community events in the warmer months, for example involving children and families.”

Stewart also thanked the Rev. Les Brunger, “for his kind words, and help with the dedication and official opening.”

Stewart and Jill gave particular thanks to the people whose labour-of-love hard work made it possible – the local community payback team.

At the ceremony it was noted that the effort clearly put into the garden showed the payback workers involved were fully committed to the project.

Their hard work is reckoned to have helped the team behind the project bring to fruition a valuable new amenity for the community.