Hamilton United Reform Church’s Derek Corner writes about a recent meeting with Malawian visitors
The teachers from the Robert Laws Secondary School (ROLASS) in Enbangweni, were visiting the David Livingstone Centre where they exchanged gifts with Hamilton minister Rev Derek Corner.
Derek first developed links with a physics teacher in Malawi when he was working as a Religious and Moral Education teacher at Balfron High School.
Although their name derives from a missionary of the United Free Church of Scotland, David Livingstone is their local hero, and a highlight of their first visit to Scotland was a visit to the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre.
Mr Chirambo, the head teacher of ROLASS and his teachers were surprised to learn that Hamilton URC comprises of two former congregational churches, one of which, St James’ Congregational Church was attended by David Livingstone as a boy.
The other, Hamilton Congregational Church records Neil Livingstone, David’s father, as one of the founder members.
The two churches merged in 1966, and in April 2000 most of the congregational churches in Scotland merged with the United Reformed Church.
On their visit to the David Livingstone Centre the members of the Hamilton church offered hospitality to the staff and pupils from Malawi and Balfron, providing lunch and exchanging gifts.
