PHOTO GALLERY UPDATE – 23 JULY 2026 – FELLOWSHIP AND MONREITH GARDENS

FELLOWSHIP AT THE GARDENS OF MONREITH

On a day that could have been made for such a visit, so perfect was the sunny weather, the 23rd of July saw a group of us visit the gardens of Jackie and Sam Shuttleworth, Stephen Knowles and Jackie and Sam’s neighbour, who owns the old mill next door to them.

I love gardening but my patch is nothing compared to theirs, which can only be the results of true labours of love. I’m not even going to try to name the amazing variety of plants that flourish in these gardens but together, they gave us an afternoon of horticultural joy.

The old mill-stream runs through the mill’s garden – just right for dabbling toes in on a warm afternoon!

And thank you, too, to those who provided a delicious tea to round off the day: a perfect ending to a delightful afternoon.

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Harps, elephants, and tears at a packed house for our 2026 ‘Summer Music’ concert. Leading Scottish harper and inspirational teacher Wendy Stewart, along with members of the Dumfries and Galloway Branch of the Clàrsach (ancient small harp of Scotland and Ireland) Society proved a big hit with a packed house at the 2026 All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Challoch, ‘Summer Music’ concert on Saturday, 4 July. Wendy and the nine harpers (pictured) received rapturous applause for their performances of traditional Scottish airs and the traditional Northern English ballad ‘Scarborough Fair’. They also gave visitors the opportunity to try playing a harp themselves. Wendy Stewart is pictured tutoring two of the 25 audience members who came an hour before the start of the concert to take up Wendy’s offer. The audience was equally appreciative of the All Saints’ congregation’s abundance of musical abilities, ranging from guitar, violin, harp, tuba, sousaphone, to piano and voice. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when violinist Catherine Demetriadi and harper Kirsty Anderson performed their rendering of ‘Ashokan Farewell’, used in the Ken Burns highly acclaimed American Civil War TV documentary series. It was a poignant recognition of this year’s 4th July and the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Catherine went on to play Fauré’s ‘Bercuse’, accompanied by Angela Bain on piano. The mood was then lightened by the appearance of an elephant in tuba form. Creetown Silver Band member Rosie Manton played ‘The Elephant’ from Saint-Saëns’ humorous musical suite ‘The Carnival of Animals’, accompanied on piano by Angela Bain. Rosie (pictured) then swapped her tuba for her sousaphone and treated the audience to some Dixieland Jazz. All Saints’ Priest-in-Charge, Reverend Canon Stuart Bain on guitar and his wife Angela on piano (Pictured) brought the concert to a rousing finale that included Geordie folk song ‘Cushie Butterfield’ and the traditional spiritual song, ‘Do Lord’. Rounding off the event was a delicious strawberry cream tea.

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RATHER CHANGEABLE WEATHER! – JUNE 2026

On Thursday 18 June, All Saints’ Fellowship Group walked to from The Hive, Glentrool to White Cairn, a Neolithic chambered cairn. And the heavens opened…

One soggy doggy – and owner. Then, only two days later, we had a ‘weeding party’ at church. The good news about trying to be an eco-church is that we don’t use weedkillers: however, I’m sure the weeds know this and take advantage! But it makes a wonderful opportunity for folk to get together for a team effort in getting rid of some of the most persistent culprits. Thanks to all those amazing people who must have gone home with sore backs and aching knees but with satisfaction of knowing ‘a good job done’. Here are some of them. And look at the change in the weather…

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THE LICENSING OF THE REVD CANON STUART BAIN

On Thursday, 7 May, The Reverend Canon Stuart Bain was officially licensed by The Right Reverend Dr Nicholas Bundock (Bishop Nick), Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway (UDGG), as the new Priest-in-Charge at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Challoch. At a packed Diocesan Licensing Service at All Saints’, Stuart was officially appointed successor to The Reverend Canon Dawn Matthew, who left All Saints’ in February to become Canon Missioner for the UDGG. Commenting on Stuart’s appointment, Bishop Nick said: “Stuart brings a huge depth of experience, wisdom and pastoral care, and we are enormously grateful for his commitment to All Saints’. “This feels like a wonderful match between priest and congregation. All Saints’ is a loving and dynamic church community in an extraordinarily beautiful setting, and I’m excited about the next chapter of its life and ministry together. “If you’ve never visited All Saints’, Challoch, I’d encourage you to give it a go!” For his part, Stuart explained: “On retirement in 2021, my wife and I moved permanently to our home in Glentrool. I’d served for 41 years in the Church of England in the Diocese of Durham, latterly as Archdeacon of Sunderland and then Provost of Sunderland Minster. We threw our lot in with All Saints’, Challoch, and discovered a deeply caring and friendly community where we felt very much at home. “My wife became the church’s organist and I supported the ministry there as a retired priest. In February this year, we moved into a vacancy when our priest, The Reverend Dawn Matthew, moved on. So, what did the future hold? In my experience, God always has plans. The nudge came. I had conversations with the Bishop and the local church, and here I am: Priest-in-Charge of All Saints’, Challoch. “It is a great honour to be able to serve the All Saints’ community. I think the role over the next few years is clear: to support our church, to continue to grow and develop together, and be a church for everyone. So, in life – never say never!”

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OUR PLANT AND BAKE DAY – 25 APRIL 2026

The sun shone and we had a great day! Thank you Mary Clare McCulloch, water colour painter from Castle Douglas, who showed techniques of flower painting to interested folk.

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HOLY WEEK

A full house for a beautiful service on Easter Day Storm Dave made lighting the new fire at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday – shall we say – challenging? …………………………………….