Church Overview

Built on an ancient ecclesiastical site, the present church was built in1804, possibly using materials from its predecessor buildings then partially rebuilt in 1877 and again in 1914 by Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter as a cruciform church with a tower over the main west entrance.

The small rural kirk, with fine views over Rule Valley to Ruberslaw, possesses some exceptionally fine stained glass, including three windows installed in 1922 by Douglas Strachan, Scotland’s foremost stained glass artist of the early 20th century, and a wonderful modern window by another noted Scottish artist Roland Mitton, commissioned and installed in 1992 to mark the Women’s Guild centenary.

Notable memorials include one to Bishop William Turnbull, founder of Glasgow University in 1451, and another to Lt Tony Fasson GC, a Royal Navy officer who gave his life along with a colleague in 1942 to rescue an Enigma Machine and its codebooks from a sinking U-Boat and whose immense sacrifice helped shorten World War Two considerably, saving innumerable lives. 

During a period of contraction and rationalisation by the Church of Scotland, the decision was taken in 2023 to sell this historic church along with hundreds of others across Scotland. Members of the local community and the Turnbull Clan Association, whose familial connection to the church goes back centuries, have rallied to save the building for posterity. A decision on whether their efforts have been successful is expected in late July 2025.

Services

Sundays: 9.30am or 11.00am, usually every three weeks, times change every four months: see notice-board for details.

Opening Arrangements

Open daily

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.