Free West Church, Greenock

This beautiful church once stood at the corner of Ardgowan Street and Kelly Street in Greenock.  It was demolished in 1992.  These drawings show how the church looked – almost. The tower was never actually constructed.

Designed by John Honeyman (1831-1914), the foundation stone was laid on 12 June 1861.  The church was to be called the Free West Church and was being financed by the congregation whose old building was just across the street.  That building they sold and would become the home of the Methodist congregation. 

A large crowd attended the laying of the foundation stone which was also the date of the 10^th anniversary of their minister, Rev John Nelson (1820-1878) who had succeeded their former minister the Rev Dr Patrick Macfarlan.   (Read more about the Disruption in the Church of Scotland (and why certain churches were called "free") and its effect in Greenock here.)

The building was opened for worship on 13 November 1862 and was described as having - “besides the church, a large and lofty hall, a ladies’ waiting room, a vestry, and retiring rooms”.  Unusually it did not have obvious side aisles, but along both sides of the building were corridors along which were doors which admitted worshipers to the individual pews.  You can see a photographs of this strange set up, as well as some wonderful photographs of the church here.

The description goes on “The extreme length of the interior, inclusive of the apse, is 84 feet, and the width, exclusive of the side corridors in 42 feet.  The height from the floor to the wall head is 40 feet and to the ceiling 48 feet.  The building could seat 950 worshippers. Originally it was intended to build a spire at the south west corner of the church, but at the time of construction it reached just to the eaves, with the option of completing it at a later date. 

The stained glass windows were designed by the architect and finished by John Cairney of Glasgow and the “medieval gas brackets and pillars” supplied by Finlay & Weir of Cathcart Street, Greenock.  Other contractors who worked on the building were - Thomas Watson (builder) Glasgow, Daniel Anderson (joiner), Peter McKay (slater), McLean & Barclay (plumbers), John Buchanan (gasfitter) and Tannock & Son (plasterers). 

Photo - Greenock Burns Club

The Rev John Nelson was succeeded in 1878 by Rev Hugh Macmillan (1833-1903) who served as Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland in 1897.  In 1900 the Free Church of Scotland joined with the United Presbyterian Church to become the United Free Church.  The congregation were then known as the West United Free Church, Greenock.   In 1902, the Rev Hugh Macmillan was succeeded by Rev James J Macaulay. 

Another name change took place in 1929 when the United Free Church joined with the Church of Scotland.  The church on Ardgowan Street changed its name to St Mark’s Church.  That wasn’t the end of name changes, though.  In 1955 the church merged with Greenbank Church (corner of Kelly Street and Newton Street) to become St Mark’s Greenbank Church.  In 1987 the congregation united with that of the Old Kirk on Nelson Street to become St Luke’s Church.  (Now known as Westburn Church.)  The building was demolished in 1992 and flats built in its place.

Read more about other Greenock Churches and their history here.