Former Greenbank Church, Greenock

 This is the former Greenbank Church on the corner of Kelly Street and Newton Street in Greenock.

Designed by Hippolyte Jean Blanc (1844-1917) it was opened in 1882 as Greenbank United Presbyterian Church.  It is described as an example of the Early Pointed Gothic Revival style.

The congregation of this church had a very rich and interesting history.  They started out as a breakaway group from the Port Glasgow Secession Church, holding services in a tent at Cartsdyke in Greenock.  In 1758 they had raised enough money to build a church in Market Street (now King Street) and Smith’s Lane, described as a "plain and comfortable edifice" and "the wee kirk".  In 1803 they moved again to what was called the "Canister Kirk" (described as “octagonal”) which seems to have been on East Shaw Street (near where the Hospital used to be at Inverkip Street).  This cost the grand sum of £1202.  In 1845 they moved again to a new church at George Square (George Square United Presbyterian Church) on the corner with Princes Street which unfortunately burned down in 1880.  The intrepid congregation then agreed to build a new church, and the site on Kelly Street (also known as Greenbank Terrace) was chosen.  The foundation stone was laid by former Provost Abram Lyle in October 1881.

The new building was opened in October 1882.  The masonry work was carried out by A Galbraith & Co of Glasgow and joiner work by Hunter & Sinclair of Glasgow.  Plumbing work - Peter Bell & Co, glazier work - T Britton, plaster work – James McCreadie, slaters - David Phillips & Sons and upholsterers - Robert Blair & Sons, all Greenock tradesmen.

At the side is the church hall which was added in 1933 by local architect Alexander Stewart McGregor.

The minister at this time was the Rev James Brown Thomson (1850-1910) born in Penpont, Dumfries and who lived at Bentinck Street in Greenock.

In 1929 due to church mergers, it became Greenbank Church of Scotland.  In 1955 the congregation united with St Mark's Church on Ardgowan Street and used that building.  They became St Mark's Greenbank Church.  In 1987 it united with the Old Kirk on Nelson Street and that became St Luke's Church of Scotland (now known as Westburn Parish Church).

When the building was vacant after the 1955 church union it became the Greenbank Institute for the Deaf.

Latterly the building was used by the Elim Church.

Unfortunately, it now lies empty.

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