Fun in the sun brings fundraising boost for Clyde kirk

A family fun day organised by a Clydeside church did more than provide some sunny entertainment for its congregation and community.

It also raised £1,300 towards the work of Port Glasgow New Parish Church.

This was the third year the church has hosted its summer family fun day with the 2025 event the biggest and most popular to date.

Attractions included a bouncy castle, face-painting, food and drink stalls including home baking and hot dogs, a raffle, chocolate tombola and a "beat-the-goalie" challenge, while New Parish minister Rev William Boyle proved a good – if very damp – sport by sentencing himself to the stocks and inviting his congregation to "soak the minister".

"The family fun day is free entry, and we keep costs low," Mr Boyle said.

"Even with free entry, we raised £1,300, which shows just how busy the event was from start to finish.

"We have a church which is open seven days a week from morning until night, connecting with our wonderful town in so many different ways, so this money will be invested into a Church with Mission, very much at the beating heart of all that we do."

The fun day was brainchild of congregation member and mother of six Pamela MacDonald, and she continues to organise the event with support from many volunteers.

The youngest of these is New Parish Sunday Club member Erin MacDonald, who at 10-years-old is in her third year as a stallholder at the church's summer family fun day.

Mr Boyle explained: "Erin sets up her own stall at the fun days, selling many items like wristbands, pens, necklaces, including items she has made too. On this occasion she raised £284.50. Over three years in total she has raised just over £1,000 from her stall for our local foodbank run by our friends at the United Reformed Church."

The summer fun continues at New Parish Church with a picnic in the park this Saturday.