Category Archives: News

Due to an ongoing fault (nearly 3 weeks now!) with the church office telephone line please contact us on 01389 726688 for the time being – the usual number is out of order.

On Sunday 18th November 2018 worship will be at 10:30am in The West Kirk.
There will be no service at Riverside this week.

This is a joint service for Riverside, West Kirk and St Andrews congregations followed by a presentation on future plans and options for the way ahead for the 3 linked Church of Scotland parishes in Dumbarton.

This year the joint Remembrance Sunday Service with Dumbarton: West Kirk will be held at Riverside, starting at 10:45am

We have collated the Rolls of Honour of names for those who died in both World Wars from the Dumbarton churches which are now represented by Riverside and The West Kirk.  To view the full list click here:RollOfHonourPewCards2018

We have been researching more information about those we are remembering.  If you know of any further details we could add please do let us know.

Click here to read more about the Rolls of Honour.

To coincide with the Centenary of the Armistice, a number of Scots organisations in London have combined to produce a book ‘Scots in Great War London’  that records stories, and examines the close links between the organisations, and their shared hopes fears and tragic losses. It notes too that Scotland’s casualties were disproportionately higher than those from other parts of Britain.

One of the contributers to the book, the BBC’s health Editor Hugh Pym, and his wife Susan (both elders at St Columba’s) came to Riverside this week to share stories collected in ‘Scots in Great War London’. Susan grew up in Dumbarton and Riverside is her ‘home church’. Donations were collected for the work of Poppy Scotland and Borderline, the charity that works with homeless Scots in London.

There was a well-established Scots community of around 90,000 in London before the Great War broke out in 1914. Their work and background covered a wide range of professions, jobs and social backgrounds, but their Scottish-ness was a bond between them. Organisations like the Caledonian Club, the Caledonian Society and the London Scottish FC (rugby) catered for social and sporting interests, while Crown Court and St Columba’s Church of Scotland congregations catered for spiritual and social needs. There were links too with Scots regiments like the Scots Guards and the London Scottish Regiment.

When war broke out many who belonged to Scots organisations signed up – and many never came back. At the same time troops from Scotland passed through London going to and from the Front. Over the course of the War St Columba’s fed and entertained nearly 50,000 Scots troops passing through London, going to war or going home.

You are invited to Afternoon Tea in Riverside Church Hall on Saturday 8 September at 2pm with entertainment from Fine Fettle.  Raffle and lucky dip.   Tickets £6, available from the Church Office (01389-742551).  

Dumbarton: Riverside Parish Church will be open as part of West Dunbartonshire’s Doors Open Day on Saturday 1st September.  Come in and look around the buildings and church yard, learn about the history and see some amazing stained glass windows!