Parishioners at Airdrie Excessive Church paid tribute to the life and work of a beloved former minister at a particular commemoration service on the second anniversary of his demise.
Reverend George McCabe died on the age of 91 in April 2020, lower than a month into the unique COVID lockdown and with solely eight mourners capable of attend his funeral in individual at a time of the tightest restrictions.
Members of the family and his many pals from the North Bridge Avenue congregation celebrated his reminiscence with a long-awaited service honouring his “mighty ministry” of greater than three a long time and his contribution to the broader Airdrie neighborhood.
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Greater than eighty individuals attended the thanksgiving service, led by Excessive Church minister Rev Ian McDonald and which included private reflections from relations and church elders.
Pictures of Rev McCabe at work and residential had additionally been collected and have been displayed within the church corridor as worshippers shared their recollections of his ministry.
He was first appointed to the Excessive Kirk in 1963, and was described as “a really gifted preacher and caring pastor” who went on to turn out to be a “weel-kent determine within the city” – together with by standing at Airdrie Cross smoking his trademark pipe to make himself obtainable to speak to church members and native residents.
Rev McCabe supported the church’s organisations, together with attending its widespread Sunday faculty journeys, and served because the “devoted” chaplain of Airdrie Academy and in addition to the Territorial Military.
The well-respected minister was actively concerned in quite a few native tasks together with being on the planning committee for St Andrew’s Hospice forward of its opening in 1986, and was additionally an incredible supporter of the Burns society.
He was additionally a proud Airdrieonians fan, spending Saturday afternoons on the east terracing of the previous Broomfield within the city centre and “by no means shy about recounting the successes of the crew from the pulpit on Sundays”.
Senior elder Sandy Paul, who was a part of the appointment committee which introduced Rev McCabe to Airdrie Excessive, mentioned: “Little did we all know that we have been granting ourselves a gradual and stabilising affect and management that will serve us faithfully and properly for 33 years.
“There’s little question that he influenced the lives of many individuals – he was a well known and much-liked character within the city and it was a privilege to work and worship with him all through his lengthy and devoted service to Airdrie Excessive Church.”
George McCabe was born in Edinburgh on December 18 1928, and served within the Royal Navy earlier than initially changing into a Baptist minister in Darlington.
He then served with the Church of Scotland again in his house metropolis earlier than transferring to Airdrie; and he moved again to the capital after retiring from the Excessive Kirk in 1996.
Rev McCabe married his beloved spouse Janet in 1957, and the couple had 4 sons – Alisdair, Calum, Michael and Stephen – and grandchildren who have been amongst these paying tributes at his funeral and anniverary memorial.
Church elder David Kennedy mentioned: “This was a novel service for the life and ministry of one of many big figures of the Excessive Kirk, [who] touched so many lives in our congregation, our city and past.and adjusted so many lives for the higher.
“The non-public reminiscences superbly illustrated George’s character by way of so many small episodes in his ministry and life; and the service which was a transferring and respectful approach to bear in mind our nice minister.”
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