Author: Bellshill Central

As the Church of Scotland in Bellshill we extend a warm welcome to any of our activities. People have been coming to this building to worship God for over a hundred years. While our town has journeyed through many changes over those years, the constancy of the witness of the “Church at 346 Main Street” has remained uninterrupted. The mission of any Church is to reflect through its presence, its music, its fellowship and its beauty the greatness of God, and we seek to do that here in all that we share. We hope that everyone who enters these doors will find an encouraging, friendly group of people. While we are far from perfect, we are regularly discovering truths that are changing us individually and enriching our lives as a church community. As we worship together, learn from the Bible, and pray for one another, we are strengthened in our commitment to Jesus Christ as well as to each other. If this is your first time here, we welcome you, and invite you to share the joy that we have found.

Sole Nominee

by Bellshill Central, posted in Weekly Church News

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PREACHING OF SOLE NOMINEE

The Nominating Committee is delighted to announce that we now have a Sole Nominee. The Committee has made its unanimous decision after much prayerful consideration.

Rev Kevin de Beer will preach for the vacant charge at Bellshill Central Parish Church on Sunday 17th January 2016 at 10:45am. Further details regarding the service and voting arrangements will be intimated in due course.

This is very positive news for our church and we hope and pray for a full congregation on 17th January to make Kevin, Cheryl and their children feel welcome and at home in Bellshill Central Parish Church.

Please share this wonderful news as widely as possible.

Macdonald Memorial

by Bellshill Central, posted in Macdonald Memorial
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MAIN GABLE OF THE CHURCH FROM MAIN STREET AROUND 2010

Macdonald Memorial Church Centenary Booklet 1873-1973 – click here to view.

The church building was the first Free Church in the area, built in 1876.

However, services began in Bellshill in September 1873 at the recommendation of the Free Church Presbytery of Hamilton and were for a time held in Mossend school. The charge was sanctioned in 1874.

The rapid growth of the population, employed in coal mines and iron works, favoured the development of the congregation.

The foundation stone of the Church, hall, and manse was laid on 9th June 1876 and by August 1877 the church was ready for public worship. The architect is David Clunas.  Read our entry in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects.

Initial Membership figures were: 143 in 1875, and 477 in 1900.  The first Minister was William Macdonald, who the church was re-named after in 1912.

The building at 346 Main Street has been called;

  • (1874) Bellshill Free Church,
  • (1900) Bellshill East United Free Church,
  • (1912) the Macdonald Memorial United Free Church, and
  • (1929) at the Union of the churches it adopted the name Macdonald Memorial Church of Scotland and became a parish church in its own right.
  • (2014) Bellshill Central Parish Church, upon the union with Orbiston

The Blackie Memorial Hall was opened in 1950.

Ministers:

  • Rev William Macdonald, 1874-1906
  • Rev C H Dick, BD, 1906-1910
  • Rev John Steele, BD, 1910-1922
  • Rev George Granville Ramage, MA, 1923-1928
  • Rev James S Fyfe, 1929-1934
  • Rev J Esson Giller, MA, 1934-1942
  • Rev Albert Thomson, 1942-1972
  • Rev William M Glencross, LTh, 1973-1999
  • Rev Alan Mackenzie, 2001-2014
THE CHURCH PICTURED IN 1910, WITH THE OLD MANSE TO THE RIGHT

Orbiston Parish Church

by Bellshill Central, posted in Orbiston

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Orbiston – it’s History – click here

The lands of Orbiston are very ancient; the name centuries older than that of Bellshill, going back to the 12th & 13th Centuries.

Then in the 19th Century the ill fated, short lived Orbiston Community was set up in 1825.  It was founded on the same principles of the community at New Lanark, but did not enjoy the same success, and soon fell apart.  Many of the names of the present Orbiston area, such as New View Drive and Babylon Road, take there names from this period.

After the end of the 2nd World War the new housing area of Orbiston was created, to accommodate young families, and to replace much older housing in the area.

Some years later, in 1954, Hamilton Presbytery determined that a new church was required to serve the Orbiston area.  A site was purchased and plans commissioned for the church buildings.

The Church of Scotland’s Church Extension Committee, employed Rev Albert Bolton as Minister.  He was inducted to the charge of Orbiston on 17th March 1954 at St Andrew’s Parish Church, there being no church or congregation at Orbiston. Each of the town’s Church of Scotland’s loaned 3 three elders to form the Kirk Session of Orbiston.  They served in that capacity until the first local elders were appointed in 1957.

Sunday 21st March 1954 saw the first service in Orbiston when, before a packed congregation, the wooden hall was formally opened and dedicated.  With seating for only 144, it was often filled to capacity, with worshipers also standing in the kitchen, passageways, open doorways and in the grounds outside.   Sunday School classes met “in relays” from 1.30pm through until 5pm.

The fledgling congregations first birthday was marked by the laying of the foundation of the permanent church structure on 19th March 1955, and the new church was opened and dedicated on 13th September 1956

By 1966 the church had received full Quoda Sacra status and had a membership of almost 500 communicants.

It was linked with Bellshill St Andrews Church in October 1980 then linked with MacDonald Memorial Church in 2001.

The Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre now operates out of the former church buildings on Busby Road in Bellshill.