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The Old Tower.
It appears to have been Father Charleson's idea to erect the Tower and Belfry of the Old Church as a War Memorial. To this end he formed a committee and involved parishioners in building it. The Memorial Committee, as it was called, consisted of eight people, namely Father Charleson (President), Daniel Taggart (Secretary), William Crainie of Smithston, Mrs Lawther and James Montgomery of Croy, Francis Tullen and Michael Griffin of Auchinstarry and James McGachey of Condorrat.
The main structure of the Tower was built by Parish volunteers. It was twelve feet square and from ground level to the tip of its cross, the height was fifty feet. Skilled masons led by a Mr Gilmour built the Belfry and battlements and fitted the Dome. At the Dome's peak was erected a huge cross which had formerly crowned the west gable of the original Chapel-School. Mr John B Kerr was in general charge of the construction work and he created the Dolphin Gargoyle on the southwest corner. Mr James Reid carved a fine head of Christ which was then built in above the entrance. Mr William Smith chiselled from stone the holy water stoup in the porch, which bore the inscription "Cleanse me, O Lord." Near the stoup was fixed a stone memorial tablet bearing the names of those who gave their lives in the Great War. (Note: when the Tower was demolished around 1958, the memorial tablet was preserved. It is hoped to find an appropriate new home for it in this centenary year. Because this memorial holds only the names of the World War I dead, it was much later decided by Croy Social Club to have a new memorial that would include the names of the dead of both World Wars. Committee members consulted with Canon Sheridan who proposed that the new War Memorial should be in the form of a Pieta. church.
The central room of the Tower was intended to be a museum of war relics and Fr Charleson issued an invitation for the gifting of relics and mementoes for displaying there. For several decades such items could be viewed in the room.
The Opening Service for the Tower was in November 1922. Local worthies, including non-Catholics participated. Mrs Duncan of Auchinbee unveiled the Tower door, Mr Hay, Architect, presented the key to the Archbishop to open the door. Captain Buchanan of Twechar unveiled the Memorial Tablet, Father Joseph Docherty called the Roll of Honour. Music, including the last post, was provided by the Croy Parish Silver Band. The Archbishop blessed the Memorial Bell which was then tolled for the first time by John Fitzsimmons and Peter Quinn. Kilsyth Pipe Band rendered "The Flowers of the Forest" and "Scotland the Brave". Father McCann was there to offer the prayer for the dead, "Pro Mortius" and after the people received the Archbishop's blessing, the Croy Band closed proceedings with the National Anthem. Later, Father Charleson quoted the Victorian Irish poet Aubrey de Vere in recognition of the new tradition then begun of sounding the Angelus Bell twice daily at noon and six p.m. "All praise to Him, the Angelus is heard
Once more from hill and woodland, crag and town."
Sadly, the Old Tower was demolished at the time of the construction of the new church building in 1958. It is still a nostalgic memory in the minds of many parishioners .
The marble sculpture for the Pieta was subsequently created in Italy by an old Italian sculptor, using Swedish ebony black granite with agalite facing granite for the plinth. It was ordered through McGowan Monumental Sculptors of London Road, Glasgow. Although the deposit was paid in March 1981, it was September 1985 before the Memorial reached Croy. The Pieta had remained in McGowan's yard for four and a half years until Richard Pender arranged payment and had the Memorial transported to Croy Social Club. Thereafter, James Cullen, then of the local Council's Parks Department, organised its erection on its plinth by Mr Tom Nolan, monumental builder who worked in Bedlay cemetery. To this day it has a commanding site outside the Church entrance area where it remains as a handsome memorial to the fallen of both world wars.
The Memorial Bell was cast by Messrs. John C. Wilson & Co., Portugal Street, Glasgow, an old-established firm. The bell weighs fifteen hundredweight and is three and a half feet in diameter. It is judged to have a very pure tone. Father Charleson wrote of it: "Like a living thing it murmurs and sings to a slightest touch of the hand; struck with the hammer it should be easily heard in certain atmospheres ten miles away." The present tense is used to describe it, for the bell now hangs in the tower of the present church.
Five years after the building of the Tower, came the 25th anniversary of the Parish. Fr Charleson put himself to a great deal of trouble to mark the occasion, not least in inviting his old friend Bishop Henry Grey Graham of Edinburgh, to help celebrate the Semi-Jubilee Mass.
According to a report in the Irish Weekly (26 November 1927) the whole congregation met the Bishop at Croy railway station together with Croy Silver Band. Everyone then walked in procession to the Church. Fr. McCann had been invited back as chief celebrant. Bishop Grey Graham was guest of honour. Others participating were, Fr. Charleson (deacon), Dr. McGaurin (sub-deacon), Fr. Jansen of Kirkintilloch (master of ceremonies), Professor Hamilton of St. Peter's College, Bearsden (conductor of music) and Canon McNamara of Kilsyth. Bishop Grey Graham delivered a homily on the return of Catholicism to the area and spoke edifyingly on the subject of 'Faith".
The occasion of the Semi-Jubilee was made an excuse, if any were needed, for the parish to deliver an appreciation of Fr Charleson. John Docherty of Condorrat, brother of Father Robert Docherty, the first priest ordained from the parish, wrote the long eulogy. It contained these words of praise for a much-loved priest who drove himself to illness in the service of his people:
"His character is interwoven with innumerable virtues like modesty,
justice and charity. His charity and unselfishness reign supreme - he shuns
all that would give offence and cause injury."
Without Father John M. M. Charleson there would have been no Parish of Holy Cross Croy as we now know it. He was a crucial and formative influence with more virtues than can be easily counted