THEY are a family of five with nearly 120 years of service to a Balornock church between them.
Now, Stewart Dunn, his wife Marion, and their children have told of their joy after their dedication to Tron St Mary’s Church emerged following a letter of thanks from the leader of the Kirk.
Lord Wallace, moderator of the General Assembly, initially sent Stewart a long-service certificate to mark his 50 years as an elder at the Balornock hub, only for it to transpire his family all held similar roles.
As well as the 73-year-old and his wife – who has volunteered for 31 years – kids Andrew and Louise and daughter-in-law Hazel all serve as elders within the Red Road church.
Stewart, a retired bathroom and kitchen salesman, said: “For many years I was the fabric convener, known as the handyman and the person to come to with any questions about the congregation’s history.
“For me, as an elder, the main thing is listening to people and trying to help them solve problems.
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“Sometimes people do not want to bother the minister because they think they have enough on their plate so I was often the link between the congregation and the minister – the go between.
“I enjoyed trying to come up with a solution to a problem that a family or an individual had and ensuring that they got the help they needed.”
The Dunn’s dedication to the kirk shows no signs of stopping with Stewart’s two granddaughters – twins Emma and Marianne, 15 – both singing in the church praise band and due to officially become members on their 16th birthday later this year.
Rev Rhona Graham, minister of Tron St Mary’s Church, paid tribute to the Dunn family for their committed service name.
“Since Stewart was ordained an elder, then in the following years his family, the kirk session and the church has been strengthened by this family who are committed to Christ,” she said.
“All of them are different and bring their own skills to the church but the biggest gift they
all share is their love for God and the community they live and work in.
“We are very blessed to have benefited from Stewart’s long service – the time he takes with others when he sees someone needing help is something we could all aspire to.”
Lord Wallace is an elder at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney and only the second in modern times to hold the office of Moderator of the General Assembly.
“I warmly congratulate Stewart Dunn on his 50-years’ service and extend thanks to him and his family members who, between them, have served Tron St Mary’s in Glasgow for a grand total of 116 years.
“The Church very much values and is grateful for the commitment of the eldership in the work of the Church.
“Mr Dunn and his family well demonstrate that commitment.”
There are 27,774 elders in the Church of Scotland of whom 44% are male and 56% female.
In the Glasgow Presbytery, there are currently 3027 elders, 1327 are male and 1700 are female.
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