History

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A Brief History

In 1964 the two Church of Scotland charges in Neilston – Old and South – united to form the present Neilston Parish Church.

Neilston South was the Free Church which originated in a mission of 1870 and passed through the United Free Church from 1900 - 1929 when it joined the Church of Scotland. A church was built in High Street in 1873 to be joined in 1930 by a hall. These premises now form the Church Halls.

Neilston (Old) was the original Parish Church dating from medieval times when the church was supplied by monks, firstly from Glasgow then after 1163 AD when the monks travelled from Paisley Abbey over the Gleniffer and Fereneze Braes via the Monks’ Trail to take services in the Church of Neilston.

At the Reformation the church passed to the reformed Church of Scotland and was under the care of the ministers of the Abbey Church of Paisley who sent Readers to take the services. Not until 1589 was there a settled ministry. This has continued unbroken to the present day.

The evolution of the church is as follows:

Until 1760 the buildings appear to have been a long, low rectangle. In 1762 two wings were added which made the church into T plan - a popular style of church in the 18^th century. It was still single storey but there is evidence in the stonework of these wings that there was a Heritors’ Loft in each of them, most likely entered from outside stairs. There do not appear to have been pews, but there may have been some wooden benches, while many brought their own stools or stood about the floor. The Church was adorned by a tower in 1789, the same one as today.

A major building programme started in 1796 until 1798. This time the corners of the T shape were filled in and the walls were raised to make the building the present size and shape. A new roof was put on. The lofts were removed and the gallery erected on three sides, this time with inside stairs, and, being open to the church, were an unusual feature. Pews were installed in all parts of the church. Next, in 1814, porches were built at the side entrances; a vestry/session house at the foot of the tower in 1820; and a complete re-roofing in 1827. The organ was built in the mid 1880s and this necessitated a reordering of the chancel with a new pulpit.

More modifications were made in 1953 when a new vestry and choir room were created under the galleries flanking the pulpit. The chancel rails were taken away.

Various memorials have been added over the years. A marble plaque to Rev Peter MacLeod; First World War memorial windows were inserted into the ancient Gothic window in the North Wall (1920), together with Communion Table and Chairs. There are also two stained glass windows in memory of Mrs M P Glen’s parents and Uncle Robert Craig. Two more commemorate the South Church dead of World War II. Other memorials have been added from time to time.

Outside the Church is the burial ground which served the parish for generations but is now closed to new interments. There are many stones commemorating long forgotten residents. There is a burial vault in the north wall, under the Church floor, belonging to the ancient family of Mure of Caldwell – last opened in 1912. There are two other vaults – one to Dunlop of Arthurlee and the other to Cochrane of Kirktonfield, in the Church Yard.

At the gates of the Churchyard are the Roundhouses. The circular one is the older and was the original Session House. The original Roundhouse was used for the elders to collect for the Poor Fund which was the Session’s responsibility. It may have been used by watchmen who guarded against grave robbers in early 19^th century.

There have been over twenty ministers in 300 years. Alexander Fleming, MA DD, 1804 – 1844 is well known for his tussles with authority over the question of provision of sufficient accommodation in the Church, and with the Heritors over seat rents. Robert Barr, MA TD JP, 1895 – 1952 was the longest serving minister.

In the South Church the longest serving minister was Archibald Fergusson, 1873 – 1917.

In October 1998 the Congregational Board decided to re-roof the Church. In December of that year fierce storms severely damaged the roof. This was compounded several weeks later when much more of the roof was removed by the severe weather. The congregation left the building on 6^th January 1999 and moved to the halls (the former South Church) returning to a completely refurbished Church, inside and outside on 6^th June 2004.

Neilston Parish Church Halls

(Formerly Neilston South Church)

The interior of the Church Halls

(Front Hall, formerly Neilston South Church)

Neilston Parish Church

The interior of the Church

Ministers and Readers from Paisley Abbey

Rev Patrick Adamson

1574 – 1584

Rev Patrick Sharpe

1584 – 1589

Mr Robert Arthur (Reader)

1574 – 1578

Mr James Davidson (Reader)

1578 – 1580

Mr John Ramage (Reader)

1580 – 1589

Ministers who took full charge of

Neilston Parish Church

Rev John Brown

1589 – 1591

Rev James Livingston, MA

1591 – 1593

Rev George Maxwell

1593 – 1595

Rev Andrew Law, MA

1595 – 1632

Rev John Law, MA

1632 – 1649

Rev William Semple, MA

1649 – 1657

Rev Hugh Walker, MA

1657 – 1662

Rev Alexander Kinnear, MA

1663 – 1672

Rev Andrew Millar, MA

1672 – 1687

Rev John Kinnear, MA

1687 – 1688

Rev David Brown

1688 – 1703

Rev John Miller

1703 – 1733

Rev Alexander Clark, MA

1733 – 1737

Rev Henry Millar

1737 – 1772

Rev John Wilson

1772 – 1784

Rev John Monteath, MA

1785 – 1798

Rev William Hood

1798 – 1804

Rev Dr Alexander Fleming, MA DD

1804 – 1844

Rev Hugh Aird

1845 – 1872

Rev Thomas Miller

1873 – 1878

Rev Peter McLeod

1879 – 1894

Neilston Parish Church

(The word ‘Old’ was added to the name of the Church in 1929 until 1964)

Rev Robert Barr, MA TD JP

1895 – 1952

Rev Robert S Whiteford, MA

1953 – 1964

Neilston South Parish Church

(Free Church 1873 – 1900, United Free Church 1900 – 1929

Church of Scotland 1929 - 1964)

Rev Archibald Fergusson

1873 – 1917

Rev John A Hunter, MA BD

1916 – 1920

Rev John D Connell

1921 – 1925

Rev Kenneth E Macaulay, MA

1925 – 1934

Rev James McDonald

1934 – 1945

Rev Harry S Watson

1946 – 1962

Neilston Parish Church

(Union of Churches)

Rev Robert S Whiteford, MA

1964 – 1967

Rev John McArthur, MA

1968 – 1978

Rev Fraser R Aitken, MA BD

1978 – 1984

Rev Alexander Macdonald, MA BD

1984 – 2006

Rev Agnes P Low, BD

2008 –