Church Overview

Originally built for the local Free Church of Scotland congregation, who had left the town’s Martyrs’ Church, (so-named for the ‘Paisley Martyrs’ James Algie and John Park executed in 1685), the foundation stone of the new “Free Martyrs’ Church” was laid in September 1847. Its architect was prolific Free Church builder David Cousin from Edinburgh and the stonemasons, charged with implementing his design, the local firm of Coghill and King. 

Significant later additions and alterations, including a bold square tower and impressive south front in neo-Norman style, were added in 1904-05 by the local architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie. Inside are galleries on three sides, held aloft on cast-iron colonnettes. The pulpit, at 18ft long, has oft been likened to the bridge of a ship. A pipe organ was installed in 1909 to replace the small harmonium that had been in use for some years.

Following the Union of Free And United Presbyterian Churches in 1900, the building was known as the Martyrs’ United Free Church. After the United Free Church merged with the Church of Scotland in 1929, it became the Martyrs’ Memorial Church until the “Memorial” was dropped in 1973.

From November 2009, following its congregational union with Sandyford Church in Thread Street (shortly before the latter was closed and demolished in 2011), it was called Paisley Martyrs’ Sandyford Church. After another period of local reorganisation of local Church of Scotland congregations in the early 2020s, it was renamed Paisley West Church.

Services

Sundays at 11am

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.