St John's Renfield Church

St. John's Renfield Church is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, serving Kelvindale in the west end of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Glasgow. The church building is situated in Beaconsfield Road, Kelvindale.

Dedication

The church was dedicated in January 1931. The new building was planned by the United Free Church of Scotland, but by the time of completion the UF Church had already united (in 1929) with the Church of Scotland.

The former St John's and Renfield UF Church had been located in Elmbank Street (at Bath Street) in the city centre. This congregation was created in 1923 by the union of St John's UF Church with Renfield UF Church (with the former St John's buildings being sold and later demolished). Recognising the move of population to the suburbs, the congregation further united with Hyndland UF Church in 1927. The church was "transported" (i.e. relocated) to the new church building in Beaconsfield Road in 1931.

Construction

The church was designed in a Gothic revival style by the architect James Taylor Thomson (1887-1953). He won the competition to design the church in 1927; it was built between 1929 and 1930. Thomson's wedding took place in the church in 1931. The church also includes elaborate oak carvings and stained glass by Douglas Strachan and Gordon Webster. Also in Glasgow, Thomson designed High Carntyne Parish Church and was involved in designing the chapel of the University of Glasgow and much of the 1937 Empire Exhibition site in Bellahouston Park.

Ministry

The congregation is currently without a permanent minister. The previous minister, the Rev Dugald Cameron, is now minister in Oban.

A former minister (1966-1976) was the Very Rev Dr James Simpson, who subsequently moved to Dornoch Cathedral and became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1994.

See also

• List of Church of Scotland parishes

Other churches nearby

• Knightswood St. Margaret's Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
• Jordanhill Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
• St. Luke's Cathedral (Orthodox)
• St. Mary's Cathedral (Episcopalian)
• Wellington Church (Church of Scotland)

External links

• Church of Scotland Presbytery of Glasgow
• Directory of Scottish Architects: James Taylor Thomson
• Photograph of the church (on Flickr website)