The Society of Friends of St Michael's

There are many organisations associated with the church, all projecting their own personalities. One of the more low profile ones is the Society of Friends of St. Michael’s Church. We seem only to be aware of the Society’s existence when some beautification arrives, frequently unheralded, on the scene.

Its origins are a bit hazy but it seems to have developed from an idea two Home Guard officers, (the then minister Rev. C N Rutherford and William Wright the father of Elder Julia Wade) had during an off-duty discussion. Anyway, the founding fathers had an early coup. Not only did Queen Mary become the Royal Patron, she became the first enrolled Friend.

The objectives of the Society of Friends in simple terms are to contribute to the care and preservation of St. Michael’s and add to its adornment and furnishings. Early on the holding of an annual service to be held at Michaelmastide was agreed and the congregation has had the opportunity of listening to some of our greatest preachers at these Patronal Services. Additionally, the Society undertakes visits to other churches and places of particular religious interest.

There is not space here to list the additions and improvements the Society has been involved in, either in part or whole. Some are essentially practical such as the provision of aumbries and the cleaning of stained glass windows. Some appeal to the historian such as the bead roll in the North Transept showing the names of every minister of St. Michael’s from 1242. Wrought iron, damask curtains, pulpit fall, the Book of Remembrance, the visitors’ stall are but some of the Society’s gifts. But there are two contributions from the Society that are worthy of fuller comment.

The first is their contribution to the side chapel in what is now known as the Queen’s Aisle. Here is a splendid place, crafted by local people, for prayer and meditation and the holding of small services like the monthly communion. It is fitting, too, that the Monarch’s title should be used. The Queen visited St. Michael’s in 1955 when she suggested the installation of concealed lighting behind the carved canopy of the reredos, another beautification owing much to the Society. She returned in 1989 on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of King Robert the Second’s granting of a Royal Charter to Linlithgow.  Bearing in mind that Queen Elizabeth is our Royal Patron and her gift to the church in 1955 of the silver alms dish, which, at her request, is used every Sunday, the aisle would seem to be appropriately named.  One cannot ignore or forget the Society of Friends’ work in marking the 750th anniversary of St. Michael’s by donating the new window designed by Crear McCartney in St. Katherine’s Aisle. This marvelous window takes first time visitors to the church quite aback. For the rest of us, our admiration continues.

Most recently, the Society of Friends of St Michael's has "completed" the pulpit by donating the wood carving of H.M. Queen Elizabeth ll (see picture on the right), which joins the figures of Queen Margaret, Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria.

You can become a member of the Society of Friends by taking out either annual membership at a cost of only £5 or life membership (£45). The Society of Friends would also be delighted to receive single donations. You can send your remittance to: The Treasurer, Society of Friends of St Michael's, Cross House, Linlithgow EH49 7AL or use the PayPal link below.

If you are a UK tax payer, you are invited to download and print the Gift Aid Certificate and enclose it with your donation or subscription.