Kilbirnie West
James Dodson
Illustration: portraits captioned Rev. Alexander Davidson. Rev. James Ferguson. Rev. H. T. Gillison, B.D. Rev. James Anderson, M.A. Rev. P. M. Martin.
THE FIVE MINISTERS.
KILBIRNIE WEST
A HISTORY OF KILBIRNIE WEST UNITED FREE FORMERLY REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1824-1924
BY
REV. W. J. COUPER
M.A., F.S.A.(Scot.)
KILBIRNIE
1923
TO
MR AND MRS KNOX-FLETCHER
TO WHOSE FAMILY
FOR A CENTURY
KILBIRNIE WEST
OWES MUCH
7
FOREWORD
This is a birthday book in honour of Kilbirnie West United Free Church, formerly Reformed Presbyterian. The congregation entered its one hundredth year last January, and next year will begin a new century in its history. All of us felt that this should be an occasion for worthy celebration, and naturally our minds turned for suggestions to the interesting events connected with a similar opportunity in Great Hamilton Street Church, Glasgow. Although our aims would have to be more modest, the Centenary Committee did decide on Tuesday, April 10, to raise four hundred pounds for cleaning and redecoration of the church, the installation of electric light, and expenses connected with the celebrations in 1924. Further, the desire was expressed to have in enduring form an outline of the history of the congregation, and simultaneously one name came to our lips—the name of one who could sympathetically and accurately write that record—and that was Mr Couper’s, minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Mother Church, Glasgow. We found him most willing and eager to set about the task immediately, and this book, care-
8 FOREWORD
fully compiled and generously presented, is the result.
The Committee desire to take this opportunity of thanking the author for his prompt response, the excellence of his achievement and the generosity attaching to his gift.
On behalf of the Centenary Committee,
JAMES ANDERSON, Chairman.
WILLIAM MARTIN, Treasurer.
GEO. L. WHITELAW, Secretary.
May 18, 1923.
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CONTENTS
DEDICATION . . . . . . . 5
FOREWORD . . . . . . . 7
I. THE ORIGINS OF THE CONGREGATION . . . 11
II. REV. JAMES FERGUSON . . . . 22
III. REV. PETER MACINDOE MARTIN . . . 33
IV. REV. ALEXANDER DAVIDSON . . . 41
V. REV. HENRY TOD GILLISON, B.D. . . . 53
VI. REV. JAMES ANDERSON, M.A. . . . 58
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ILLUSTRATIONS
I. THE FIVE MINISTERS . . . Frontispiece
II. THE CHURCH . . . To face p. 11
III. THE MISTRESSES OF THE MANSE . . . „ 14
IV. THE MANSE AND LADIES’ WORK PARTY, 1923 . . . „ 21
V. THE OFFICE-BEARERS, 1923 . . . „ 28
VI. SOME MEMBERS . . . „ 33
VII. SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS, 1896 . . . „ 48
VIII. FOREIGN MISSIONS COLLECTORS AND CHOIR, 1923 . . . „ 53
IX. SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS, 1923 . . . „ 60