Perhaps you may wish to know more about Mannofield Parish Church and how it came into being.
In 1880, the first approach was made to Aberdeen Presbytery for permission to set up a new congregation at Mannofield.
Plans quickly followed for the site of the new church to. be situated at Countesswells Road and then, as now, there was much hard work and fund raising, donations and grants and in particular the vision, determination and generosity of Mr. William Cordon.
Rev CC. McDonald conducted the first service on 2 7th February 1881 in a temporary wooden building.
The Rev William Forbes was inducted on 10th March. 1881 and work on the new church buildings was started with a seating capacity of 700 (now 635).
The Rev. Dr. H. Story opened the building familiar to. us today on 30th July 1882. The desired status as a parish church was granted to Mannofield in March 1882.
Over the ensuing years, Mannofield has been served faithfully by the following Ministers:
Rev William Forbes 1881-1906
Rev William Phin Cillieson 1906-1909
Rev. Walker Reid 1909-1915
Rev. John Auley Steele 1915-1926
Rev. James F. Kellas 1926-1958
Rev. James F. Falconer 1959-1975.
Rev. John F. Anderson 1975-2006.
Rev. Keith Blackwood 21st June 2007 - .........
The following points may be of interest:
Mr. William Cordon donated the large west window (above the Communion Table) in 1892 in memory of his sister. The Biblical characters are, from the left Martha, in an attitude of servitude: then our Lord in the art of teaching, next stands Mary in an attitude of devotion, and the last figure is that of Lazarus. Under this group is the inscription "To the glory of God and in memory of a beloved member of this church who was called to her rest on 25th February, 1892. She chose the good part and was zealous in good works, doing what she could in the service of her Lord and Saviour". The four smaller figures represent Moses with the tablets of the law, David as the psalmist, St. Peter as the keeper of the keys of heaven, and St. Paul as the leader with the pastoral staff. Here also is the inscription "In thy presence is fullness of joy". Another inscription on the window reads "I was glad when they said unto me let us, go into the house of the Lord .
The stained glass window in the south transept, is an allegorical interpretation of the verse from Psalm 126 "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy". Installed in 1989, it was an anonymous gift from a member of our congregation, designed and executed by local craftsmen.
The window in the north transept was designed and installed by Shona McInnes and dedicated in May 1999. The theme of this window is "the calming of the storm" and the inscription is "will your anchor hold in the storms. of life". This was provided by a legacy left to the church by the late Isobel Calder.
The wall mounted tablet above the vestibule table (the original Communion Table) bears witness to the benevolence of Mr. William Cordon.
M.A.H. Arthur donated the Lectern in 1936. The bowl in the Font is dated 1888.
Individuals and organisations throughout the year donate the flowers
The organ was moved from the chancel area and relocated to the gallery in 1969.
The Pew bibles were gifted by our Woman's Guild in 1987 and the green bibles by a member, Miss Jean Dyce in 1999.
Other points of note:
The Main Hall was added in 1910.
The centenary of our Church was in 1982 and the Rt. Rev. William Johnston conducted the Centenary Hall dedication service on 8th February 1981. Due to the demands on the church accommodation by the many active organisations attached to Mannofield, additional rooms were added in 1994.
