Church Overview

This simple two-storey kirk, with its distinctive octagonal clock tower and short spire, was built in its prominent raised position in 1820 to replace a nearby church of 1633, the ruins of which still stand in a nearby graveyard in Muirburn Road. The Georgian kirk was adapted from a design by architect Thomas Park and it underwent an internal refurbishment in 1896-97, when the architect James Chalmers introduced its handsome Neo-Jacobean north gallery and a new porch.

Further interior changes followed in 1924, when the architectural firm of Cullen, Lochhead & Brown introduced a handsome canopied Gothic pulpit and choir stalls gifted by John Wilson Williamson. The stained glass windows in the south gable, depicting the four Evangelists, were installed in 1897, one as a memorial to a previous minister, the Rev Gavin Lang, who was the grandfather of the Rt Rev Cosmo Gordon Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1928-42, the others to members of the Lang and Alston families. A vestry, hall and kitchens were all added to the building in stages during the 20th century.

Linked with Strathaven East Church in 1973 and, following that building’s closure and conversion into residential use in 2018, the Glassford congregation became part of a union of three churches known as Strathaven Trinity Church of Scotland, formed along with Rankin Church in Strathaven and Chapelton Parish Church. The decision was also taken at the time of this union to change the spelling of the church from Glasford to Glassford, a long-held subtle difference that had led to fierce debate in previous generations!

Glassford Parish Church very sadly closed in the summer of 2026, during a period of rationalisation of its national property portfolio by the Church of Scotland, holding its final service on Sunday 28 June 2026. Members of the congregation, led by lead volunteer Nicola Stewart, carefully documented the contents of the building before its closure, utilising our church recording methodology.

Church closed in June 2026

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.