Wednesday, August 11, was the fortieth anniversary of the opening of Ballifary House Residential Care Home, Inverness. To celebrate the occasion, the Home held an open day, when visitors were welcomed by the matron, Mrs Ella MacDonald, and her staff.
In the forenoon it was visited by relatives of the residents and other members of the public, who were impressed by the facilities of the Home and also by the exhibition of photographs and the informative leaflets which showed its history. In the afternoon, members of the Home Committee and friends were present and kindly entertained.
At the conclusion of the open day, Rev James Tallach, the Convener of the Committee, addressed the company, including residents and staff, and then conducted worship. In his address Dr Tallach remarked that at the official opening of the Home on 11 August 1964, the then Committee considered that the most appropriate way of acknowledging the Lord’s help in establishing a Home of Rest was to make the occasion one of singing His praises, reading suitable passages of His Word and engaging in prayer. Forty years on, said Dr Tallach, this is how we wish especially to mark this anniversary. He added that 40 years is significant in several places in the Scriptures; in particular, the completion of the 40-year sojourn of the Children of Israel in the wilderness was the occasion of their giving praise to God and glorifying His holy name, as we see in Psalm 105.
At the opening of the Home, the Committee was faced with having to repay a loan of £6000 – a heavy debt to clear 40 years ago. Not only was there a generous response by the people of the Church to the Home of Rest Fund appeal, said Dr Tallach, but many gifts of furniture and provisions were also made, including 10 pounds of tea from as far away as New Zealand. And, he added, “the barrel of meal has not wasted over the years”. At its beginning, the Home had three residents under the care of a matron and a maid; now there are 24 residents and a full complement of staff.
“We ought to note,” said Dr Tallach,” that the Home is primarily for old people of the Free Presbyterian Church.” There have been many sad defections in the professing Christian Church, he went on, but our Church’s witness to a full-orbed gospel has been preserved, and the Home is part of this. If we remain humbly faithful to the Lord, we may trust that He will be with us still. We acknowledge His gracious help in the past and our continuing need of it. “It is the doing of the Lord.”
NMR