Church Overview

Originally known as Paisley High Church, this iconic A-listed church was built by local Baillie John White between 1754-56 and its five stage, 161ft hight tower and steeple was added by White between 1767-70. The tower remains to this day in the care of the local council and has gone through four giant bells since 1770, the current one being installed in 1872.

The rectangular church was heavily renovated and reordered in 1876-77, by the local architectural firm of Rennison & Scott, during which the impressive gallery was added, along with the magnificent, unsupported plasterwork ceiling that is believed to be among the largest of its type in Europe. The great organ by Messrs Hill & Son of London was installed in 1899. Stained glass windows by Ballantine & Son, Oscar Paterson, Alexander Walker and Sadie McLellan have been installed over the years.

In 1991, the Church of Scotland congregations of Paisley High and St John’s Churches formed a formal ecumenical union with the Paisley Congregational Church and the new Oakshaw Trinity Church was created. In 1994, the congregation of Orr Square Church of Scotland joined the union, at which point it was decided that the High Church would be fully renovated to provide a worship centre for the enlarged congregation, the other buildings rented or sold and the former St John’s Church converted into the new incarnation of the very popular Wynd Centre, where the congregation now also meets and provides significant community outreach activities and facilities. 

You can read a fuller history of all of these churches on Oakshaw Trinity’s own website here.

Services

Sunday: 11.00am

Opening Arrangements

Open 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.