Elaine Mackenzie Ellis is a member of Glasgow Cathedral’s outreach committee, who are putting on a charity organ concert on October 30 at 7.30pm.
Taking place within the famous old cathedral, all proceeds raised will go to local homelessness charities, such as the Lodging House Mission and Wallace of Campsie Hostel.
Elaine – an actor who readers may recognise as Natalie from Rab C. Nesbitt – says the concert is a great opportunity to experience the cathedral at night, whilst supporting a worthy cause.
“It’s a lovely chance to come into the cathedral and have a look around,” she said. “It’s such a special place. Going in when it’s dark outside, and all the stained glass windows are lit up, it’s really magical.
“The atmosphere in there when the organ strikes up is really amazing, you get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. It’s quite an experience.
“And it’s all raising money for a good cause. Only a tenner! You’re getting your glass of wine, you’re getting your crisps, what more can we say?”
Though the concert is taking place in Glasgow Cathedral, Elaine stressed that there’s no religious component to the event.
“You don’t have to be religious at all,” she said. “The cathedral is for everyone in Glasgow.
“It’s more like a historic monument. It’s like being allowed into Edinburgh Castle late at night with all the lights on.
“And the music will be really fun and familiar, played by four amazing organists. Think Life on Mars by David Bowie – without giving too much away.”
Elaine, who grew up in Springburn, feels homelessness in the city has increased in recent years.
“I think homelessness here has gotten much worse in the last few years,” she says. “I work just off Sauchiehall Street, and you see a lot of people sleeping in shop fronts.
“I passed a tent the other day on Renfrew Street. I thought ‘that’s some poor soul in there, that’s all they’ve got.’ You think you don’t have much, but things like that put it into perspective.
“It’s not safe, it’s not warm. It must be so lonely being on the streets at night, and frightening. But it’s all they can do.”
Elaine says the church wants to show people experiencing homelessness that society hasn’t forgotten them.
“People sleeping outdoors are very often forgotten and dehumanised, and pushed out onto the fringes,” she said. “Nobody should feel they’re on the fringes.
“All people matter. They’re part of our society, and our society has let them down in a lot of ways.
“We can’t solve everything for them. But we can hopefully show them that they matter, and they’re not forgotten about.”
The Charity Organ Concert takes place in Glasgow Cathedral at 7.30pm on October 30. Tickets cost £10, and can be purchased online or at the door. Refreshments and a glass of wine or soft drink are included in the price, with all proceeds going to local charities.
More info and tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charity-organ-concert-tickets-1020148691197.
