This is the second part of a four-part blog.

The first instalment for this can be found here.

‘Stained Glass Memories’ in Glenmavis

New Monkland Parish Church, in Glenmavis, Airdrie – memorial window installed 1924.

A church in the plain Scottish style, its outward appearance belies the fact that it is filled throughout with magnificent stained-glass windows from some of the top stained-glass artists of Glasgow from the 20th century.

The Mitchell and Rankin families of Airdrie had strong links with the New Monkland Parish Church, and many family members are buried in the church graveyard.

James was wounded in the battle of Arras in France in March 1918 and he died of his injuries a few days later in London, on 1 April 2018.  He was 30 years old.  James was well liked by his men, and recognised as a ‘fine fellow’.

James is commemorated at Bannockburn House by a laburnum tree in the grounds which was planted by the volunteers.  More information can be found here https://bannockburnhouse.scot/our-history/our-families/

James Mitchell, the owner of Bannockburn House, was a former banker turned businessman and investor, with particular interests in the mining industry.  James died suddenly in December 1923.  At the time he was the chairman of James Nimmo and Co. Ltd, Coalmasters, who were the owners of the Redding Pit near Falkirk, where, nine weeks earlier, 66 miners were trapped underground when water flooded the mine.  After 9 days the rescue mission had managed to save 26 men, but tragically the remaining 40 lost their lives.

Redding Pit Disaster

The Redding Pit disaster had a devastating effect on the small local mining community, with some families losing multiple relatives.

James, who had never fully recovered from the loss of his two sons, was deeply affected by the tragedy.  At the annual business meeting of the Nimmo Company shareholders, after making an emotional reference to the pit disaster, James collapsed and died.  He was 68 years old. 

New Monkland Parish Church was known locally as ‘the Auld Grey Kirk on the Hill’, and with the dedication of the Mitchell memorial window at a service on 15 May 1924, the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser described the church as ‘becoming a wee cathedral in this way’.