“Great oaks from little acorns grow!” How apt does that well-known proverb seem to have a dual interpretation with the recurring theme in this edition of the ‘Whitemoss Chronicle’. The rural village of East Kilbride had surely its own identity as the centre of a farming community with some related cottage industries, like weaving and the distribution of milk in the form of the East Kilbride Dairy Farmers outlets in many parts of Glasgow.

In 1947 the Village underwent a dramatic sense of identity with the Government undertaking of setting up the Development Corporation project in the creation of a New Town. Over the years, the town has expanded out of all recognition of the indigenous villagers and even the so-called “white settlers.”

We have seen various large-scale manufacturing industries set up; unfortunately, some of them no longer exist. The overall population has increased dramatically, beyond, we are sure, the expectations of the planners. Residents now identify themselves with the distinctive estates of the sprawling town. Long gone are the days, when one critic deemed EK as “a cemetery with lights.” Leisure pursuits, sports centres and playing fields now give the former village the status of a successful South Lanarkshire Town.

The other duality of the proverb is the growth of the Parish of St Bride: from a “Mission Church”, served by St Joseph’s in Clarkston, a small stone chapel, then a stout wooden church and, fmally, the imposing structure on the Whitemoss hill. Although this special edition of the Whitemoss Chronicle is specifically being published in conjunction with the celebration of Canon Ryan’s Golden Jubilee, it was from that tiny church, that we now have three sister parishes: respectively Our Lady of Lourdes, St Leonard’s and St Vincent’s. The town can now boast of having two Canons of the Cathedral Chapter - Canon MacNamee of St Leonards and our own Canon Ryan. Belated congratulations to the popular Parish Priest from parishioners of St Bride!

Of course, the Christian ethos was well-established in the solid structure of the Old Kirk, which has a well-documented history and tradition. Over the years the Reformed Tradition has made its presence felt in the various Churches and Halls throughout the town. Gradually the Spirit of Ecumenism has grown; and we welcome most heartily the contribution to the magazine of the Reverend Ann Paton, minister of the Village Kirk.

There have been Joint Days of Prayer and, recently, during the Season of Lent we had a weekly Study Group. On the social level, exchanges have taken place between the Women’s Guilds of St Bride’s and other denominations. How encouraging it is “to witness such mutual coming together of the differing traditions. A complete reversal of the sectarian outbursts that have sullied the true Christian ethos.

This was endorsed in a reported statement in the National Press by a clerical representative of the Church of Scotland, who declared: “The different traditions of Christianity have more in common, than they have of divisiveness.” This suggests positive ecumenical reality and could strengthen the claim of that proverb:

“Great oaks from little acorns grow.”

KIILBRYDE