Service marks proud legacy of Covenanters

Oct 7 2009 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

AN EAST Kilbride church elder has played a key role in organising the first Covenanters’ open-air service to be held in more than 300 years.

Gardenhall man John Reardon was closely involved in organising the first Conventicle in front of the 800-year-old Covenanters’ Oak on the Dalzell Estate in Motherwell.

An elder of South Parish Church in The Murray, John is a member of the management committee of the Scottish Covenanters’ Memorials Association.

And he was delighted the Conventicle, which he believes may have been the first held at the oak tree since 1688, was well-attended with more than 120 people from throughout Lanarkshire and Ayrshire making the effort to take part.

They included News columnist and local historian Bill Niven, who is chairman of the association.

The service of dedication was conducted by Motherwell South Minister the Rev. Georgina Baxendale.

She told the gathering: “Under this great oak, the Rev. John Laurie conducted Conventicles between 1638-1688, often attracting around 400 people of all age-groups; children were allowed to play because sermons were very, very long.”

“During those five decades, some 18,000 people (a conservative estimate) were persecuted and perished for their belief in Jesus Christ.

“In recent years, it is estimated the decline in membership within the Church of Scotland is in the region of 15,000 – 19,000 per year.

“What would our Coventanting forefathers think – that, what violence, bullying and persecution could not achieve, apathy is achieving today?”

As a grandad-of-five, John is keen to ensure that the story of dogged determination, bravery and the proud legacy of the Covenanters is kept alive for future generations.

One way he plans to do so is by planting saplings, taken from the great Covenanters’ Oak for him by North Lanarkshire Council gardeners, at other important local Covenanting sites.

Said John: “I currently have two saplings, taken from the tree, growing in my garden.

“They’re just two years old now. When they grow a little bit more, I will plant them at other sites important to Covenanting history.”