It was customary at one time
when I was a child at Kilbarchan primary school to attend the East Church for one Christian celebration, and the West Church
for the following celebration.
On the right hand side is the halls where we as children had our "Sunday School
classes".
The foundation stone of the Church building was laid in
March 1787 with the congregation worshipping in the unfurnished Kirk a year
later.
By 1797 a session house was completed but the present two storey
building with vestry was not added till 1859 when the date stone of “1787” was
re-sited in its present position., as you can see in the picture.
The church was then designed and built by James
Brown in 1787, the foundation stone being laid in March of that year. It was
modelled on Canal Street Church, Paisley which is now known as Castlehead Church.
On the 20th October
that year it was agreed that this Church would be known as "The Church of Scotland Kilbarchan East", however,
from the 31st October the name used in the minute books has been "Kilbarchan East Church of Scotland"
This is one of the two "working"
Churches left in Kilbarchan.
As you pass under the archway (from Steeple square) this is the first view of
the Church,
The
congregation of Kilbarchan East first met in 1786 in the open air when minister Mr Bell preached to a 1,000 people.
This church has a long history and has been involved in unions with other Protestant Churches.
It was a Relief Church from 1786 until 1847, United Presbyterian from 1847 to 1900, and United Free from 1900
to 1929. In 1929 the Established Church of Scotland joined in union with the United Free Church.
You can contact the Church
Kilbarchan East Church
Steeple Square
Kilbarchan
Renfrewshire
PA10 Scotland
Contact: Rev John Owain Jones
Email: johnowainjones@ntlworld.com
Or visit their web page: Kilbarchan East Church Web Site
After he had finished his studies in 1938 with honors, specialising in
the area of surgery.
From 1942 to 1944 he worked in the medical Research Council Burns Unit Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he
made outstanding contributions on understanding the mechanics of homograph rejection.
He was later joined by Peter Medawar who was eventually knighted and awarded a Nobel Prize, and their works were eventually
published in the Journal of Anatomy 1943.
During this time Thomas established principles in managing the shock phases of burns.
He then joined the
British army as part of a mallifacial surgery team.
His researches with Professor R.M.Kenedi culminated in the creation of the Bioengineering Dept of Strathclyde University.