About Danestone Congregational Church
Congregationalism in Scotland emerged at the end of the 18th century as a result of a revival of religion and as a protest against the formalism and authority of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Congregational Union was founded in 1813. In the 1840's a number of churches came into being in response to the preaching of James Morison, in which he challenged the Calvinist beliefs of the Church of Scotland. He proclaimed instead the great universalities of the Gospel ... God loves all men and women; Christ died for all men and women; the Holy Spirit strives with all men and women. Whosoever will may come. These Churches formed the Evangelical Union and adopted the Congregational form of church order. In 1897, these two streams merged in the first church union of modern times.
In the 20th century, moves towards organic union increased in Scotland as they had done in England and in 1993, the Congregational Union decided to become a church, thus opening the way to organic union with the U.R.C. However, as in England, there emerged in Scotland a considerable number of churches who disagreed with the abandonment of the Congregational principle. A third of the churches decided not to enter the new Church and were received into the Congregational Federation in 1994.
There are currently thirty nine Churches which make up the Scottish Area of the Federation.
Danestone Congregational Church was founded in 1986. Set up as a Church Plant in 1986 from its mother Church Middleton Park / Bridge of Don Congregational Church.
It started meeting in Danestone Primary School, just along the road. In 1988 the members decided to break away and establish an Independent Congregational Church. In 1991 the Church built its own building.
In 1993 it planted Balmedie Congregational Church. In 1995 it planted Cove Congregational Church and in 1997 it re-established Woodside Congregational Church.
In 1999 the founding non-stipendiary Pastor, Andy Cowie, left the Church with some 100 members. From 2000 to 2003 another Minister led the congregation, but when she left, sadly the last two members also left.
There was a panic meeting between Eleanor Burnett and Andy Cowie followed by an emergency meeting, which saw 10 lapsed members - a quorum, attend, and it was agreed that Andy Cowie would return to Danestone as Pastor. The Church never actually closed, but it was close.
During the next three years the Church re-established itself, growing to 38 members.
In 2004, Andy called a meeting of the Office Bearers of the four Aberdeen Congregational Churches, to highlight his feeling that for the Churches to grow, the Churches should consider a Shared Team Ministry. The suggestion was accepted and put to Church Meetings and again the principle of the Team was accepted.
Application was made to the Congregational Federation and the Congregational Federation in Scotland for financial help. With the help of Bob Franklyn, Mission Network Support Worker, a financial help package was put together to allow all Churches to pay for part time Ministry.
At that same time, Rev. Anne Robertson, the daughter of Andy Cowie and who had been brought up in our Church, became available.
In November 2006 we welcomed Marvyn and Anne to Aberdeen when Anne was inducted as our new Minister. Since then we have seen our attendance on a Sunday increase as well as our membership, which now stands at 45.
We are a very busy Church with our Sunday School, Youth Group, Girls’ Brigade, Boys’ Brigade, Men’s Group, Ladies’ Group, Good Afternoon Club and monthly services at the Nursing Home along the road. We are also involved in mission both at home and abroad. We are especially involved in Tanzania where we have helped to set up a project for AIDS widows to enable to them to become self sufficient and help others.
Here at Danestone we are interlinked with the other Congregational Churches in and around Aberdeen; Peterhead, Balmedie, Potterton, Woodside, Kittybrewster and Cove. We enjoy fellowship with our sister Churches and benefit greatly from being part of a Shared Team Ministry.
Welcome to Danestone Congregational Church, we hope you will feel at home here.
