Lanark welcomes St Mary’s priest Father Jim Thomson

“You could fit THREE of my old church in Stepps into St Mary’s!”

Apart from being from the same Baby Boomer generation as his predecessor, the late and much lamented Father Joe Brannigan, Father Thomson also has in common with him an obvious love of the magnificent building off Bannatyne Street.

However, it is the people who go into that building Father Jim is concentrating his attentions on in this, his first fortnight in charge.

“I’m getting to know the parishoners and they are getting to know me,” he said.

“And I must say that I’ve had nothing but the very warmest of welcomes from everyone I’ve met. I’m really looking forward to my time here.

“Obviously, it is my first rural parish so there will be new things to learn but everyone is so supportive.”

For more on this, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.