The following text provides a brief outline of the various churches and religious organisations and societies that were opertating in Stonehouse . A more detailed timeline and detail for each of the churches including church group history as well as newsletters and articles are contained in our members area.
The history of church life in Stonehouse can be dated back to the 9th century, when a local chapel was dedicated to St Ninian, who worked as a missionary in the Scottish lowlands. The Church has had a strong influence on community life ever since and, by the 17th century, punishments were being dished out for gambling, drunkenness and sexual misdemeanours. In A History of The Established Church in Stonehouse, local historian John R Young reveals that “for more serious crimes, such as incest, the perpetrator had to stand at the kirk door, bare footed and legged, from the ringing of the ‘second bell to the last’, at every church in the presbytery”.
The Sabbath was fiercely observed. In 1836, the Rev Hugh Dewar of the Old Parish Church wrote: “The hallowing of the Sabbath day is here most scrupulously attended to, by all ranks of persons, both in town and parish; except in going to and from church, you will hardly see a person on the street.”
OLD PARISH CHURCH (VILLAGE KIRK)
No records exist that tell us exactly when the church opened however we know that the the old Kirk in St Ninians Kirkyard was still in use in 1696 and was restructured in 1732 and that it was still in use in late 1700’ early 1800. So at a guess it may have been early 1800’s when the parishioners moved to the Village Kirk .
Its not clear if Rev Wilkie who was in the Old Kirk in the Kirkyard in 1806 or Rev Dewar moved to the Village Kirk when it opened. Rev Dewar was replaced by Rev James Dunn in 1861. In 1887 Rev James Wyper Wilson was ordained. We know that by 1894 the poor condition of the Parish Church resulted in a survey being requested to investigate whether the church was safe and could be adapted to accommodate a growing congregation of around 900 worshipers.
- John Wilson 112 Bath Street Glasgow was engaged to carry out survey although it is not clear if the original engagement was to Mr John J Burnet architects who engaged John Wilson to carry out the work.
- Report indicates that structurally the building to be in a very dilapidated, if not dangerous condition and that the galleries would be very dangerous with a crowded congregation.
- Report states that as of my examinations, I am clearly of opinion that the building is quite unsuitable for the requirements of a Parish Church in almost every respect.
After a great deal of debate and disagreement over the future of the Parish Church, it was decided to establish a fund to raise the necessary finance to construct a new Parish Church and identify land for its erection.
HAMILTON MEMORIAL UNITED FREE CHURCH
The unity of the Church of Scotland was blown apart by one of the most important and far-reaching events of the nineteenth century – the co-called Disruption of 1843.
‘Disruption Day’ was a day when 474 ministers walked out on the General Assembly in protest against certain principles of the established church. This split in the Kirk caused bitter divisions, left ministers without homes and salaries, and meant that whole congregations found themselves without churches to worship in. It left Scotland with two national churches – the Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland – instead of one.
In stonehouse it resulted in the following
- 1843 Free church set up by Rev WK Hamilton and fund set up to fund new church
- 1874 Hamilton Memorial United Free Church opened
- 1878 Rev James Laing appointed, 1884 storm damage to church
- 1894-1819 Rev James Deas appointed, baptism font installed 1880
- 1919 saw Rev George R Robertson appointed and in 1920 Union between United Free Church and church Of Scotland , church becomes Hamilton Memorial Church of Scotland
- 1931-1946 various appointments made. Rev McvDonald, Rev. Doig, Rev. Black
- 1946/1947 saw a service of uniting both churches
- 1954 Hamilton Memorial Church demolished picture of top stone being taken from spire.
The group has a few newspaper articles, organ recitals and info which can be found on the members pages.
ORGAN RECITAL 02-10-1911 ALFRED HOLLINS
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The church was formed in 1893 by 142 members of nearby Hamilton Memorial Free Church who disagreed with procedures for electing a new minister. Initially, they held their services in the village hall. However, after attracting new members, electing a minister of their own and raising £1,800 (the equivalent of about £240,000 today) they were able to appoint architect John Bennie Wilson to design and then build their own church, which opened on 21 June 1894 with 221 members of which over 100 were weavers.
In 1901, a harmonium was installed to accompany hymn singing, replaced by a Compton pipe organ in 1935. The congregation reached an all-time high of 285 in 1952 and played a significant role in the wider community.
In 1953 the church formed a drama group as part of their diamond jubilee Celebrations and as well as performing religious plays, entertained audiences with comedy and music revues. And in the 70s, the church had a football team, some of whom went on a tour of Iceland as part of a Lanarkshire select team.
In 2002, three years after the merger of the Congregational and United Reformed churches, the Rev Kathryn Smith Anderson retired and this cornerstone of Stonehouse’s Christian heritage was set to close its doors for the last time.
PATERSON UNITED FREE CHURCH
The history of this church dates back to the late 1700s, and also stems from a breakaway when local dissenters left the Church of Scotland to form what would become the United Presbyterian Church. The original church was demolished, although a small circular part of its structure can still be seen.T
- Timeline
1783 Application made to Associate (Burgher) Presbytery of Glasgow for pulpit supply - Circa 1790 Meeting House erected at Chapleton for worshippers from Stonehouse congregation
- 1795 Dissenters Church founded in Stonehouse and in 1796 Meeting House ‘carried’ from Chapelton to ‘Newtown’ (Lawrie Street) site of present church. Newtown Meeting House served congregation until 1820 as the Associate Congregation of Burgher Seceders.
- 1815 First Manse built (Hill Manse)
- 1820 Congregation became United Secession Church
- 1842 Rev. Henry Angus Paterson (b. 1818, d. 1901)
4th minister, from Aberdeenshire. Opposed to Boer War, his grand niece was wife of ex-president Steyn of the Orange Free State. - 1847 The United Secession Church and Relief Church united to form the United Presbyterian Church. The local kirk became known as the United Presbyterian Church.
- 1878 Memorial stone laid for new church, for growing congregation. The previous church was demolished, leaving only a small circular part of the original structure, which is still evident today.
The new church was opened on April 29th 1879.
- 1900 Union of the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland. As there were two churches of the same denomination in Stonehouse, the United Presbyterian Church was renamed ‘Paterson United Free Church of Scotland’
- Death of Rev Henry Angus Paterson which led to one of the largest funerals in the parish
- 1965 Rev. Archibald Amos Small
10th minister, from Edinburgh, the third minister of Paterson Church to become Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland in 1977. Retired in September 1979. - 1977 Church seriously damaged by fire and restored by congregation the following year
- Church is still operational to-date.
Over the years various stained glass windows have been installed commemorating ministers or parishioners who served the church. Crear McCartney who was one of Scotland’s finest stained glass artists was involved in the commissioning of some of the churches windows.
ST NINIANS PARISH CHURCH
St Ninians Church, also known as New Kirk, first opened its doors on 18 December 1897.
Designed by Alexander Cullen who also designed Brandon chambers Hamilton and Atlantic chambers Glasgow. Cullen died relatively young aged 54 in 1911, 15 years after completion of Parish church.
1896 Memorial stone laid for new church in Vicars Road by Major-General Lockhart
1897 Parish Church officially opened
1922 Installation of pipe organ, donated by the congregation in memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War. It was unveiled on 17 December 1922 with a performance from Herbert Walton, famed in the day as the organist at Glasgow Cathedral.
1926 Rev. Thomas McCaughan
Resigned in 1935 due to ill health
1929 Union of the Churches. The kirk session agreed in recognition of the event to rename the Parish Church as St.Ninian’s Parish Church of Scotland, Stonehouse. Church bell was removed from Old Parish Church in New Street.
1934 Installation of electric lights completed
1935 Rev. Hugh R. Munro
Received call from Bo’ness as an assistant to Rev. McCaughan before becoming his successor. He received a call from another church in 1943.
1944 Rev. George K. Wood
Received call from New Galloway. Accepted call from another church in 1946 to facilitate the union of St.Ninian’s and Hamilton Memorial Church.
1946 Union of Hamilton Memorial Church and St. Ninian’s Parish Church. United charge renamed Stonehouse Church of Scotland. United Guild of Stonehouse Church of Scotland formed.
1947 Rev. Robert C. Pollock
Served as Army Chaplain during war. Accepted call to St.Andrew’s, Falkirk in 1951
1951 Rev. W.A.J. Gardiner
Served as Interim Moderator until new minister appointed
1952 Rev. William R.F. McGhie (d. 1968)
Served as Army Chaplain during war. Accepted call for missionary work in Jamacia in 1957. Undertook research project of tracing the history of the church in Stonehouse from 1560 to 1956.
1954 Boys’ Brigade re-established after lapse of nearly half a century
1955 New hall opened incorporating stained glass windows from Hamilton Memorial Church
1956 Rev. W.A.J. Gardiner
Served as Interim Moderator until new minister appointed
1956 Parish Church Woman’s Guild formed
1957 Rev. Alexander Gemmell (d.1984)
Appointed Clerk to the Presbytery of Hamilton in 1980
1958 ‘Mens’ Club’ formed, meeting in Adult Education Centre in Green Street
1959 Young Woman’s Fellowship formed
1960 400th anniversary of Reformation
1961 Opening ceremony of new church gates
1962 AGM of congregation agreed renaming of church as St.Ninian’s Parish Church
1970 New small hall opened, dedicated to Rev. Alexander Gemmell. The armorial bearings of Hamilton of Raploch, who resided at Patrickholm incorporated into the vestibule, gifted by Mrs Euphemia Hamilton of Crofthead farm. (formerly embedded above the entrance door to Patrickholm House)
1971 Twelve hundredth anniversary of dedication of the Parish to St. Ninian
1981 Rev. C. Raymond Vincent
Retired in 1992 to New Galloway
1992 Rev. Tom Nelson
1996 Centenary Year in which three services were screened by Scottish Television
2002 Rev. Tom Nelson receives call to Netherlee Church, Glasgow
2003 Rev. Paul George Reid Grant
SALVATION ARMY
Stonehouse was corps number 210 (Scotland), opening on 27 December
1902-1903. The first officers were two women, Captain Waggett and Lieutenant Adams.
Major Thomas Cloud, the Divisional Officer for Glasgow led the opening meeting. This is recorded in the article attached. Some months later there is a further report in The War Cry about the new corps, it reports that it now had 84 recruits and soldiers and there is an interesting description of the developing work by Major Cloud who is leading a band of “Salvation Siegers” to help in the growth of the corps.
STONEHOUSE AUXILLARY BIBLE SOCIETY
The Stonehouse society was founded in 1815 to assist the British and Foreign Bible Society in the propagation of the Gospel and other “missionary exertions”. A committee was formed with laws and regulations drawn up.
Immediately in 1815, subscriptions and donations allowed £24 and 10 shillings to be paid to the British and Foreign Bible Society, through its Hamilton chapter. Also £10 was paid to the Baptist Mission in India and £3 3 shillings to the Religious Tract Society of Edinburgh.
The goal of the Stonehouse society members was to bring others to the religion which is “the source of all happiness here and hopes hereafter” and to extend the influence of religion thro’ missionaries. To reinforce the message and influence of the missionaries it was necessary to bring their teachings in the indigenous language wherever they were established. Many of the British Royal family promoted this endeavour. That is why so many local societies sprung up across the British Isles, of which Stonehouse was one. Vast sums of money were needed to publish all these scriptures. Extensive co-operation and collection of subscriptions was necessary to push forward this scheme so the slogan was “One halfpenny per week constitutes an individual member of the Society! DARE any of us…….refuse to lend this small pittance to the Lord.” “Imitate the example of our Divine Master who deemed it more blessed to give than receive.”
In Stonehouse Parish, a considerable number of Bibles and Testaments in large print were distributed, with some still in hand for anyone else from the neighbourhood who could request them. It was acknowledged by the Stonehouse Committee that some people could not be expected to give regular pecuniary aid. In March 1815, 186 subscribers from Stonehouse are listed, of whom 12 made up the committee and another 3 held the posts of President, Secretary and Treasurer.
This grand objective was to be spread throughout the settlements of British Empire and beyond, to bring the pure light of the Gospel to all dark places on Earth. Within the British Isles the scriptures were translated into Gaelic, Welsh, Irish and Manx and used in public charitable institutions and hospitals as well as every Church and Sunday school. They were also distributed in the dominions of the Empire to slaves and prisoners of war.
The first translation of the New Testament into English was by Wm Tyndale from 1526 to 1534.
King James VI of Scotland authorised a translation of the Bible into Scots from 1604-1611.
The British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in London in 1804 with the purpose of supplying bibles world-wide in a language people could understand. In its first year it published in 67 languages and now 200 years later there are over 2000 languages covered, translation work continues. The archives of the society are now deposited in Cambridge University Library.
GOSPEL HALL (HILL ROAD)
