On the afternoon of Sunday 11th June 2023, the Lord Dean, Andrew McFarlane, attended the annual Glasgow:The Welcoming City event at Glasgow City Chambers. Piper Willie Park played as guests enter the City Chambers. Attendees were welcomed by Bailie Christie Mearns, representing the Lord Provost of Glasgow, followed by a service led by Church and Civic leaders.

The event included a welcome to visitors and refugees to the city, with a special focus this year on Ukrainians, an acknowledgment of the contribution of St Columba to our national well-being (his feast is on the 9th of June), and the historic contribution of women to Scottish life. Pupils from St Denis’s Primary School played out Mrs. Mary Barbour’s Rent Strike March. We are grateful to the Lord Dean of Guild for providing a reading.

Our thanks go to all who made this event possible: the Lord Provost’s Office and staff, City Chambers staff, all Musicians and Singers, St Denis’s School, under the direction of Liz Bovill, Church and Civic Leaders, the various Denominations and Faith Groups.

Image of the Lord Dean of Guild (left – Andrew McFarlane), Depute Lord Provost (centre – Bailie Christie Mearns), and Rev Andriy Chornenko (left).