St Nicholas Church will be lit up in blue this week to celebrate a special day in the Girlguiding calendar.

From the 21-23 February, the lights will illuminate the Church in the organisations colour for World Thinking Day, as members throughout the world remember their sisters around the globe on 22nd February.

The theme for this year’s event is Stand Strong, Stand Up and Stand Together for peacebuilding.

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Trefoil Guild members in Lanark would normally attend a special Thinking Day service to mark the date, but this year the girls can attend a virtual event organised by Girlguiding Scotland and will light candles at home on Monday evening, between 7pm and 8pm, as they think about their international fellow members.

Emma Heggie, Lanark guide leader, said: “While the pandemic has prevented face to face weekly meetings, lighting up St Nicholas Church in blue is a fantastic way to emphasise that we are thinking of each other, in Lanark and right around the world.

“For 111 years, guiding has helped develop skills and confidence in our members to become young women and make a difference in the world and we look forward to the future when we can fully embrace all the opportunities the movement has to offer.”

Last year, Lanark Rotary club commissioned the lights and projection equipment to allow seasonal images and colours to illuminate St Nicholas Church. 

Current rotary president, David Gemmell, said: “The Rotary Club has supported Lanark Guides over the years and is delighted to be celebrating Thinking Day.

“We wish the Guides all the best for their Thinking Day and beyond.”

The Girlguiding celebration, is held on the joint birthday of the founder of the scout and guide movement, Lord Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave.

The commemoration has been observed since 1926 and involves millions of girls worldwide.

In 1932, the World Thinking Day Fund was created to support the work of Guiding and Scouting around the world.

The photograph was taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.