BLACKBRAES

AND

SHIELDHILL

PARISH CHURCH

OF SCOTLAND

HISTORY

BLACKBRAES CHURCH

The building of a church at Blackbraes met the demands of worshippers and adherents of the Church of Scotland. Building began early in 1860, paid for by public subscription with generous donations from the Duke of Hamilton and a local benefactor by the name of Mrs.Russell of Blackbraes. The church building was completed in 1867. The first minister, the Rev.W.G.Boag had previously run a Church of Scotland mission at Blackbraes.

The Rev.W.Beattie occupied the pulpit from 1871 to 1884, being succeeded by the Rev.William Smith who ministered there for 42 years, 1885 to 1927. The Rev.John Easton ministered for 36 years, 1927 to 1963 prior to the union of Blackbraes and Shieldhill. The church building was closed for worship and eventually demolished in 1996.

SHIELDHILL CHURCH

Shieldhill United Free Church, known originally as Muiravon free Church, was built in 1864. It's first minister the Rev.Lewis H.Irving, was also the architect of the original church building. Following the death of Mr.Irving, the ministry was undertaken by divinity students, until the Rev.A.F.Kerr was appointed as pastor, ordained on the 14th day of Aug. 1890. It was during this ministry that the church was extended at a cost of £580.

During the years between the wars 5 ministers occupied the pulpit, Alexander Bathgate 1922 to 1929, James.R.Grant 1930 to 1933, Bernard.P.Verral 1936 to 1936, James Waugh 1936 to 1938 and George Watt 1938 to 1943, who left to take up a missionary post in South Africa, resulting in the appointmant of the Rev.John Easton. The Session book entry for 13th February 1944 states......

"The Rev.John Easton to minister to Shieldhill Church as well as his own for the duration of the war and six months thereafter."

This arrangement did in fact extend to September 1957.

The Rev.James.W.Hood occupied the pulpit during the linkage with Polmont South after Mr.Easton's retiral from Shieldhill, he still retained his ministry at Blackbraes. The linkage with Polmont south lasted 3 years, with a new linkage with Polmont North taking place in June 1961. the Rev.Hugh Talman ministered during the few years of that linkage until the union.

BLACKBRAES AND SHIELDHILL PARISH CHURCH

The first communion of that union took place under the ministry of the Rev.J.W.McGinty after his appointment in March 1964. After Mr.McGinty left this charge in 1970, the Rev.W.G.Neill ministered in the parish for four years, 1971 to 1975. The Rev.J.M.Patterson took up the challenge of this charge and occupied the newly built manse on Cross Brae, until his retiral 11 years later in 1987. The Rev.J.A.McMullan was inducted in 1988 and retired in 1996 after having spent 37 years in the ministry. He was first licensed in 1959, when he was an assistant at Belfast Westbourne. He moved to Donegal, then County Down before coming to preach at Stoneywood Parish Church in Aberdeen in 1972, coming to Blackbraes and Shieldhill in 1988.

Rev.James.H.Drysdale, Nov. 1997 to Jan. 2006 was minister to this charge with a responsibility for a part time chaplaincy at Polmont Young Offenders Prison.

Rev.Louise McClements was ordained to this new linked charge with Muiravonside Parish Church on 17th January 2008.