​Church Overview

A church has stood on this site for many centuries, and the present structure developed in stages. The present nave was built against an existing tower in 1791. The architect, David Logan, provided seating for at least 2,500 people in a structure that measured just 98 by 65 feet.

In 1831, the old bell tower and spire was finally removed and a new tower and spire begun on the 1st August 1832. Designed by J Gillespie Graham, the builder was William Smith of Montrose and with the help of £3,000 raised by inhabitants, heritors and burgh funds, the new tower was finished in November 1834. The tower measures 108 feet to the parapet and the spire extends a further 92 feet above that.

The interior has two-tiered horseshoe galleries on three sides. A timber, panelled, octagonal pulpit with sounding board on a balustraded podium is in the south apse. Gas lighting replaced oil lamps in 1836, electricity arrived in part of the building in 1903.

The largest of the tower’s bells (known as “Big Peter) is by Peter Ostens of Rotterdam and is dated 1676, the three other bells are by Thomas Mears of London, two of which are dated 1801 and 1836 respectively.

One of the rooms in the steeple is called the “Coutts Room” and houses a small museum sharing information about local merchant Thomas Coutts, who founded the London bank Coutts & Co with his brother James in 1761. Kirkyard to the east contains a wonderful collection of mid-17th to early 19th century memorials, including the 1682 Arbuthnot mural monument. 

In August 2023, the three Montrose congregations of Old and St Andrews Church, Hillside and Dun Church and Montrose South and Ferryden Church united to form a single congregation called Montrose Trinity Church of Scotland.

Services

Sunday: 11.00am

Opening Arrangements

Open July & August, Monday to Friday 2.00pm-4.00pm or by arrangement

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.