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(first 50 years only just now).
Since its inception the company has been singularly fortunate in that the Ministers of the Church were all strong believers in the worth of the Organisation.
Rev Homer Young M.A under whose guidance the company was launched did all in his power to induce parents to allow their boys to take part, and there is no doubt that the present success of the company is due in no small measure to the great work he performed in those early days.
Perhaps his greatest triumph was during the period when it seemed as if the company must be allowed to become defunct due to lack of leaders but after searching high and low he was successful in persuading Mr Balfour to assume command. All regretted his
retiral from active Ministry in 1927.
Rev. Ian D. Macgregor took over the chaplaincy in 1927 and immediately showed his interest by his monthly visits to the company parades. In this way he was instrumental in encouraging many senior lads to become earnest Church Members and workers. He it was who persuaded Mr Charles McDonald to
give bagpipe tuition in the hope of forming a pipe band and as we have seen thus proved to be a highly successful venture. His death in 1943 was a great blow to the company for during his ministry he had endeared himself to the heart of every officer and boy.
Rev. Robert Paterson B.D succeeded to the Chaplaincy in 1944 and possibly his first contact with St. John’s Church was his visit to the company under canvas at West Kilbride. Here again we have been exceedingly fortunate, for Mr Paterson’s interest goes that little bit further than his
predecessors in that each year so far he has spent a week with the boys under canvas and so the boys and Chaplain have got to know one another intimately, we feel sure that under his guidance the company will go on from strength to strength.
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