History of Stonelaw Church

(Largely extracted from the history prepared by Mr J A Brown to celebrate the Ter-Jubilee of the Church in 1984)

The Buildings

The birth of the congregation goes back to the time when Rutherglen, an independent burgh, was a small town of some 6,000 inhabitants. It was, nevertheless, a thriving industrial community engaged in coal mining, textile manufacturing and shipbuilding.

A strong body of 'Seceders' from the Established Church felt the need for a place of worship and a public meeting was held in the Old Court House on 20th November, 1834 at which it was resolved to form a 'Relief' congregation. Pending the building of a church the congregation worshipped in the 'Court Hall'.

In January, 1835 the erection of a church on a site in King Street was commenced and in the incredibly short space of six months it was ready for use. It was opened for worship in August, 1835.

In 1847 the union between the 'Secession' and 'Relief' churches was agreed and from that date the congregation became the 'United Presbyterian Church' of Rutherglen.

On 31st October, 1900, the Union of the United Presbyterian and Free churches was concluded. The congregation became the 'Rutherglen United Free Church North'. In May, 1929, the long discussed Union of the United Free Church with the Church of Scotland was consummated in Edinburgh. Although unable to approve fully of the Basis or Plan of the Union the Congregation nevertheless deemed it their duty to enter the united church on the wider view that a unification of the religious forces was necessary in Scotland recognising the deeper truth of the necessity of unity in Jesus Christ. Thus the history of this congregation has seen the broken sections gradually re-united until finally joining together in Church of Scotland.

From 1890 onwards the office-bearers had under consideration the building of a new church and, in 1907 the ladies of the Dorcas Society handed over the sum of £297 to form the nucleus of a Building Fund. In 1907 the site of the present church, comprising 2,820 square yards, was secured for £500. In April, 1910, the contractor the building was placed with Messrs. Train & Taylor to plans submitted by Messrs. J. B. Wilson & Son, architects. The memorial stone was laid on 30th March, 1912 and on Tuesday, 3rd September, 1912 the church was opened and dedicated by the Right Rev Thomas Whitelaw, moderator of the U.F. Assembly.

All sittings in the church were let on the opening day and a waiting list was opened for a large number of members to whom seats could not be allocated. The total cost of the church was £11,155, which was entirely cleared by November, 1925.

During the summer of 1968 the sanctuary was closed to make major alterations to the chancel. On 1st September the chancel was rededicated following the alterations.

The Organ

In 1878 the congregation sanctioned the purchase of a harmonium for the leading of praise, which hitherto had been led solely by a precentor and choir. In 1903 this was replaced by a Brookes' pipe organ at a cost of £500, half of which was met by a grant from the Carnegie Organ Fund. In 1930 a new Compton all-electric organ was purchased at the cost of £2,900. This organ was refurbished in 1993 at a cost of over £50,000 which was met after an appeal to the congregation.

Ministers to the Congregation

Rev. William Beckett    - 1840 - 1870
Rev. John McNeill    - 1870 - 1908
Rev. Thomas Wardrop    - 1908 - 1941
Rev. Archibald Watt    - 1942 - 1957
Rev. Thomas Morton    - 1957 - 1986
Rev. Alistair Morrice    - 1987 - 2000

Rev. Dr. Alistair May    - 2002 - to date