Bishopton Parish Church

Bishopton Parish Church

Denomination:   Church of Scotland
Address:   Ferry Road, Bishopton, PA7 5PP
Local Authority:   Renfrewshire
Listing:   TBA
WEBSITE

Church Overview

Bishopton Parish Church sits on a knoll to the north-east of the village. The Abbey of Paisley founded a church on the site, on the pilgrimage route to Iona, in the 12th century. Post-Reformation, known as Eriskyne or Erskine Parish, it was one of the first parishes of the new Presbytery of Paisley.

The current Gothic church was constructed in 1812 by architect David Hamilton and is a hall church with a square tower at its west end. Later additions to the building include a 1903 extension, designed by Paisley architect W.D. McLennan, and a 1960s hall. In 1999, it changed its name from Erskine Parish Church to Bishopton Parish Church, in order to avoid continuing confusion with the nearby New Town of Erskine.

Two carved figures, of unknown origins, and the weathered coat of arms of the Blantyre family, greet visitors on arrival at the main door. The interior, including its semi-circular gallery and side aisles, originally had a capacity of around 350 parishioners. This was reduced to around 300 following a major refurbishment of the sanctuary in 2000 that made the building much more accessible. The baptismal font was made in 1843, coming originally Rossland Church, and the Communion Table was created in 1947, as a memorial to locals who fell in both World Wars. The original pipe organ was installed in 1896, having been purchased second-hand from a grand house in Paisley. In 2015, this instrument was replaced with a 1956 pipe organ, made by JW Walker & Sons Ltd of London, that came from the Corran Esplanade Church in Oban.

The oldest memorial in the kirkyard outside dates to 1590. It also contains the resting place of Jean Breckenridge or Burns and her son James Burns, the sister-in-law and nephew of Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns.

Services

Sundays: 11.30am.

Opening Arrangements

Open by arrangement

 

Induction loop for the deaf   Disabled WC  inventory

Image Gallery

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Bishopton Parish Church

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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.