Church Overview

The building was the gift of John Clark, owner of the Anchor Thread Mills in Paisley, who kept a summer house at Curling Hall in Largs.  It was designed and built from 1890-92 with red sandstone from Locharbriggs and Corsehill by architect William Kerr of the firm of Thomas Graham Abercrombie, Paisley. 

Its landmark spire towers 160ft over the Largs seafront and statues of Moses and St John peer down from its west gable at those walking along the promenade below. Beneath a fine hammer-beam roof, the building possesses a rich interior, with superb stained glass, all manufactured in Glasgow at height of Arts & Crafts movement. Artists include William Meikle & Sons, Stephen Adam & Son and J & W Guthrie.

The walls of the church are panelled with a 15 foot high dado of carved Austrian oak. The 1892 two manual pipe organ built by Henry ‘Father’ Willis was gifted by William Clark, John’s brother.

Clark Memorial Church was originally built for the United Presbyterian Church, becoming a United Free Church in 1900, following their union with the Free Church, and then a Church of Scotland kirk in 1929 when the United Free Church reunited with Church of Scotland.

Services

Sunday 10.00am, Thursday 10.30am

Opening Arrangements

Monday to Friday 9:30am to 12:30pm

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.