SMR 511 / NS 8562 7299
At the Disruption in 1843 the entire Kirk Session of Slamannan resigned and the following year a Free Church opened near Pirnielodge on the north side of the railway adjacent to the public road (NS 8687 7287). This was inconvenient and so the building of a new building was started in 1860 at the south-east end of the village on Station Road, not far from the Culloch Burn on land donated by Mrs Waddell of Balquhatstone. That family remained staunch supporters of the church until its closure. It opened on 4 August 1861 at a cost of £850.
The building was a hall type church capable of sitting 500-600 people, with its east gable facing the road and a small steeple perched on the south-east corner. The gable contained a short central porch with a large 3-light window above and a tall lancet window to either side. The architect’s visualisation drawing for the church shows an octagonal steeple slightly corbelled out from the corner, which then chamfers in to an open stage or viewing platform surmounted by the spire. The architects were Barclay & Watt, West Nile Street, Glasgow.
Just three years after it opened, in March 1864, the new building was gutted by fire, leaving just the walls and heavy timbers standing. The fire was started by heat from the heating stove being in contact with the wooden gallery. The congregation had just been settling in for a service when the fire was observed and they immediately left. The contents, including the seats, were saved. Notwithstanding the disaster it was rebuilt the next year –it had been insured for £500 with the Caledonian Insurance Company.
…
Union with the Parish Church occurred in 1946. The manse was sold off and the church building was used as a community hall. Many of the congregation thought that the church building should have been selected for continued use in preference to the parish church, but an architect recommended that the parish church be used due to future maintenance costs.
In 1900 the Slamannan Free Church became the Slamannan United Free Church; and then in 1929 it became part of the Church of Scotland and became known as Balquhatstone Church. The congregation was very active running many clubs and societies. An annual garden party at Balquhatstone House helped to raise funds for the upkeep of the building. In 1935 the roof was re-slated and the interior re-painted.
Ministers of Slamannan Free Church
| 1847 | Eyval, William | Apr 1861 |
| Jul 1861 | Tuller, William | 1874 |
| May 1875 | Reid, Archibald | Dec 1892? |
| Jul 1892 | Strathairn, George | May 1893 |
| Oct 1898 | Stewart, William Robert | May 1921 |
| Nov 1921 | Brackenridge, James Calderwood | Jun 1925 |
| Apr 1925 | Whyte, William MacKenzie | 1928 |
| Aug 1928 | Duncan, Reginald | Sep 1931 |
| Apr 1932 | Martin, John Robson | Apr 1938 |
| Dec 1938 | Wilson, William Iain Girdwood | 1941 |
| Feb 1944 | Moncrieff, Hope | Mar 1945 |
| Rate, E. |
Bibliography
| Waugh, J. | 1977 | Slamannan Parish through the Changing Years. pp.58-60. (Quoted Below) |
“On the morning of Sunday, 16th March, 1864, just as the congregation were gathering for worship sparks began falling from the south-east corner of the gallery, and soon the whole building was ablaze. Those who had already been seated managed to get outside. A message reached the parish minister, the Rev. R.S. Horner, who immediately dismissed his congregation so that all who could might help to stem the fire. While there was still time, some people managed to save the seats and other contents of the church. By 5pm firemen from Falkirk, with help from the local people, managed to put the fire out, but not before there had been very extensive damage done to the building…”
Newspapers:
Falkirk Herald, 7 June 1860, 2: CONTRACTORS ARE WANTED for Executing the MASON, CARPENTER, SLATER, PLASTER WORK, &c, of FREE CHURCH at SLAMANNAN. Plans and Specifications will be seen the Office of Barklay & Watt, Architects, West Nile Street, Glasgow; and the Office A. C. Esq., Binniehill…
Witness, 10 August 1861, 3: The Rev. Mr Main of Free St Mary’s. Edinburgh, on Sabbath last opened the new Free Church just erected at Slamannan, on the site granted by Mrs Waddell of Balquhatstone. The church was filled some time before the hour fixed for public worship… The Rev. R. S. Horne, the minister of the Established Church, in order to give such of his hearers as chose an opportunity of being present at the opening services in the Free Church, resolved to close his church.
Dunfermline Press, 23 March 1864, 3: SLAMANNAN FREE CIIURCH BY FIRE — On Sunday forenoon, the Free Church of Slamannan was completely destroyed by fire. The church was only built two years ago, at a cost of £850, and was situated on the Balquhatstone estate, Stirlingshire, on the west side of the road leading from Slamannan to the station on the Monkland Railway. Although the church did not, in an architectural point of view, claim particular distinction, still it was a neat and compact structure, and adequate to the wants of the place. It had a gallery, and was seated to accommodate from 500 to 600 people. The fire occurred a little after 11 o’clock, and just when the congregation was assembling for public worship. The precentor, Mr David Rankine, had only been in his seat a minute or two when he observed sparks falling from the south-east corner of the loft into the pews below. The circumstance was noticed by others, and an alarm was immediately given, as it was suspected the loft had by some means or other caught fire. Those of the congregation who had assembled within the walls of the church went outside, and in the course of a few minutes the flames belched forth in the gallery at the point indicated, and in a very short time were making way to the roof of the church. A despatch having been sent to Falkirk for the fire-engine, it arrived between two and three o’clock, under the superintendence of Mr Mitchell and Mr Gray. The engine was instrumental in saving the heavy timbers and walls from being destroyed. With the exception of the western and eastern windows, the others are entirely demolished, and nothing but the bare walls left standing. The fire was thoroughly extinguished about five o’clock. It is supposed to have originated from the stove communicating with a part of the woodwork in the corner of the gallery. The building, it may be added, is insured to the extent of £500 in the Caledonian Insurance Company.
Falkirk Herald, 9 January 1935, 3; …in connection with Balquhatstone Church, Slamannan, that the roof there was not in a good condition, and that having gone on for some time, necessitated not only the stripping of the roof and work upon it, but also necessary painter work inside the church. The total amount involved was about £200… recommendation to proceed.
Falkirk Herald, 7 September 1935, 6: Balquhatstone Church reopened last Sunday after having undergone a few weeks’ renovation. The re-slating of the roof and other external improvements, together with the re-painting of the interior, have achieved an effect that serves the purposes of utility, artistry, and atmosphere.
Falkirk Herald, 27 April 1946, 2: SLAMANNAN. For SALE, former BALQUHATSTON CHURCH MANSE. 9-room House. Modern Conveniences. Feu-Duty, £2 10/-. Assessed Rental, £28. Immediate Entry.—Offers, to be marked Manse and to be in by 9th May, to JAMES B. STORRAR, Crossburn, Slamannan, Falkirk…
Falkirk Local History Society 