by Cameron Brooks
More than 700 colourful handknitted and crocheted blankets have been gifted to vulnerable people in Glasgow.
They were made by talented members of the Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church, inter-faith community groups, groups of friends and individuals as an expression of the warmth of God’s love for all.
The Glasgow Close Knit Project was launched by the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Glasgow and city-based social exclusion support charity LHM360 (Lodging House Mission) last year, as part of the Glasgow 850 commemorations to mark the eight-and-a-half centuries since the city was awarded burgh status.
The idea for the project came from the Rev Janet Mathieson, Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow 2024-2025.
A carol service was held at LHM360’s base yesterday and afterwards the blankets were distributed to people in temporary accommodation and users of city projects run by CrossReach, the operating name of the Kirk’s social care council.
In attendance was the Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who said: “It was a lovely service and Rev Janet Mathieson spoke very movingly about the blankets that will benefit more than 700 people in a tangible way.
“At Christmas time, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, we are reminded that God swaddles all of us, enfolds all of us with his love and care.
“No matter who we are, where we’re from, what we’ve done.
“In the words of one of my favourite hymns – God is love and us enfolding all the world in one embrace.
With unfailing grasp is holding every child of every race.”
The carol service was led by Allan Lafferty, probationer minister and acting chaplain to LHM360 and attended by service users, the City Mission Choir, CrossReach project users, Rev George Mackay, Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow and civic dignitaries including Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of Glasgow.
Ms Mathieson explained the background to the blanket project.
“As Glasgow prepared to celebrate Glasgow 850, I became Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow and I knew it was important for the church to contribute to the celebration,” she said.
“Along with Rev Peter Gardner, Pioneer Minister to the Visual Arts Community in Glasgow, Deacon Claire Herbert DCS of LHM360 and Allan Lafferty, Glasgow Close Knit 850 was born.
“From the earliest beginnings, faith and faith values have been an important part of the life of Glasgow and we marked the anniversary by inviting people to be involved in crafting and creating blankets for those most in need of them.”
Ms Mathieson said the blankets were shown in two exhibitions in Glasgow – Kelvin West Church and The Briggait – earlier this year to allow people to see their beauty, as they came together to form one giant blanket to reflect the warmth of God’s love for all.
“The values of kindness, compassion and care, of justice and of generosity of spirit are at the heart of faith and part of the identity of Glasgow,” she explained.
“The Close Knit project put these values into action and enabled us to understand that we are all close knit together in God’s love.
“We share a common humanity and a responsibility of care for one another so thank you to all involved in the project and may everyone know the warmth of God’s love this Christmas time and beyond.”