I joined the church in Kirkintilloch before I was married and then started attending Falkirk Old and St Modan’s after I married John.  His family were members here. When his parents came to Falkirk they visited all the churches and because they liked Mr Leslie joined this church.

In which ways have you been involved with the church?

I helped with the Sunday School before I was married and I rang the bells, but I haven’t been involved in many activities.  I supported John in his role as an elder.  At present I help with the power point on a Sunday and I am enjoying that.

Tell me about yourself and your family

I have always been proud of my maiden name – Jean Scotland Stirling! Because Stirling was a popular name in Kirkintilloch, I was always known by my full name – a bit much for John when he first met me!I have two sons and four grandchildren who live in Linlithgow and Edinburgh and a house in North Berwick which I enjoy visiting.  I worked as Speech and Language Therapy Manager with Forth Valley Health Board and also served on the Health Board. I really loved my work; I got great satisfaction from being involved with people and their families.

And what about your interests?

I am a member of Soroptimist International and at present I am the link person for the Sierra Leone project which we are supporting.  I also love reading and am a member of a Book Group. And over the last few years, working with the computer has opened up a whole new world for me.  I produce a magazine for Inner Wheel and have produced newsletters for other organisations.

 

What stands out as your happiest times in the church?

I enjoyed the years when John was an elder because there was a lovely fraternity and also when the children were young and we were attending church as a family. Both of my sons are now elders in their own churches and one was Session Clerk until recently.  I think it is important to give your family grounding in the church; to give them basic knowledge as to what it is all about.  Some of the happiest days in my life were when they both joined the church and became elders.

What do you think the church has got to offer today?

I’m not sure. We live in very different times. Families don’t go to church as they used to; children are not being shown the way.  If young people go to church, then it is often to a very different kind of service and maybe we need to look at what young people find attractive about such worship.

What are your views on the future of our church?

I think we have to make the church a centre for the town.  We have to change; we can’t have that huge building sitting hardly used. St Andrews Blackadder Church in North Berwick is a great social centre for the town; that is what we need.  There are so few places in the town centre to hold meetings and if we keep a flexible layout so it suits a variety of uses, then the revenue will keep the building in good repair.  I find it very heartening to be worshipping in Hallglen.  I would like to see that atmosphere transposed down the road; the whole s