| During
the summer of 1899, a gospel tent was pitched on the open space
at the bottom of Cadzow Rows. The gospel message was earnestly
and faithfully preached by an evangelist, Mr. Alex Lamb from
Dalmellington, Ayrshire, with the help of a number of believers,
who lived in the Cadzow, Low Waters and Eddlewood districts.
The meetings
were well attended and there were quite a number of conversions.
At the time of the tent being taken down the question of
continuing this work was discussed. There was a need to keep the
new converts together and to instruct them in the Scriptures. It
was also clear there was a need to continue with the preaching
of the gospel in the district. Most of the Christians who were
active in the work were in fellowship in the assembly at
Baillies Causeway, Hamilton. The distance of three miles was
important as no bus service was available. These factors guided
the saints in their exercise to see a new assembly commenced in
Low Waters.
At that time
there was a small hall next door to a grocer’s shop at the top
end of the buildings called Cadzow Square. This was the property
of Cadzow Coal Company, but is now demolished.
This hall had
occasionally been used by a local man for gospel meetings and
was also used for meetings of a local football team. As it was
felt to be a suitable place for the new assembly to meet, a
deputation was appointed to meet the directors of the Coal
Company to see if they would grant the use of it.
Much prayer was
made to God in preparation for this meeting. As in Nehemiah, the
Lord was asked to prosper them in their business, and give them
favour with the directors, and that they would grant them their
request. At the meeting they were well received, and when they
had explained the purpose for which they wished to use the hall,
the directors not only consented but gave them its use
completely free of charge.
The hall was
cleaned and painted, new seats were made and Mr. Gilchrist gave
the table which is still in use today in the assembly. On Lord’s
Day 1st October 1899, the first meeting to remember the Lord in
the breaking of bread was held. That same night the gospel was
preached by Mr. Lamb. The number of names on the roll at the
beginning was approximately forty.
The assembly
gatherings continued in this hall until 1906. During the
intervening period the Lord had given such increase in souls
that 73 were then in fellowship. There was also a very large
Sunday School and the hall was too small to accommodate the
requirements. This situation was temporarily resolved because
the hall was extended by the new owner, Mr. Brown, who had
purchased it from the Coal Company. At that time a concrete tank
was also built for baptisms, as previously the Baillies Causeway
Hall tank had been used for this purpose.
Despite these
changes the accommodation was not very satisfactory. It could
not be adequately heated in the winter, and the roof was too low
for comfort in the summer. For these and other reasons, a
proposal was made at the beginning of 1910 to make the effort to
obtain a different hall.
There was a
very real conviction that the assembly should have its own hall,
and that every effort should be made to realize this.
Application was made to a Glasgow firm to obtain relevant plans
and estimates. A sister in fellowship had a real heart for the
work of the Lord and also sufficient money to lend to the
assembly for this purpose. After she had seen the plans and the
whole project had been explained, she readily made the required
amount available as an interest free loan to be repaid in twelve
years. The amount involved was £300. These arrangements were
formalized with a written agreement which was signed by nine
brethren guaranteeing the money would duly be repaid.
Application was made to the Factor of the Duke of Hamilton to
obtain a piece of ground to build on. This was granted on lease
for a limited number of years at a yearly rental of £1.10p but
some years later the ground was bought for £45 and became the
property of the assembly.
Then began a
time of activity. A number of brethren were soon at work digging
the foundations etc., and so the new hall was built. The total
cost was £299.19, and this included all the furnishings. Mrs.
Lochhead, the sister who gave the loan, received all her money
back in eight years. The corrugated hall was demolished in 1950-
51 and was replaced by a brick building with a new roof and
entrance, and cloakrooms.
In 1984 it was
decided to enlarge the building with a new entrance hall, and
new cloakrooms, kitchen and toilets. The work starte and
was proceeding well when disaster struck on 27th June. Vandals
set fire to a floor that was newly laid that day. The small hall
and the main hall were so badly damaged by smoke that they could
not be used again until 1st June 1985. In the intervening period
until the hall was repaired the assembly was allowed use of the
Council Hall in Eliot Crescent for its services on the Lord’s
Days. It was let for a very nominal fee. The assembly at High
Parks gave use of their hall, on Tuesdays, for Prayer and Bible
Readings, and for the monthly Saturday night meetings and Annual
Conference.
The present
hall is both adequate and comfortable. There are currently sixty
in assembly fellowship. |
