Advent Sunday in 1976 was a bright day with a strong wind blowing. After the Eucharist the congregation gathered on the rocky ground outside the front entrance to the new Hall as the building was dedicated and opened by the Bishop – Ian Forbes Begg. A party followed.

On Advent Sunday 2006 we didn’t quite manage to have a party, but there were two celebratory cakes. The one after the Eucharist was cut by May Forbes, who was the Secretary of the Vestry at the time the Hall was opened, and in the afternoon - after the Service of Advent Carols and Readings - the cake was cut by some of the children of Saint Mary’s today.

Over the 30 years the Hall has been in use for most of the day on almost every day of each year and it has been extended twice. The first time was in 1988 when the Sutton Rooms were built, through a generous donation from Toby and Lillian Sutton, and again in 1998, when the upstairs rooms were added.

Today the Hall houses not only Saint Mary’s many meetings and activities but also a variety of community groups and - on Mondays and Thursdays - a day care centre for the elderly, organised by Aberdeenshire Council.