EASTBANK CHURCH OF
SCOTLAND
679, Old Shettleston Road, Shettleston
The
growth of Shettleston towards the end of the nineteenth century, which led to
its becoming a unified community rather than remaining in its separate component
parts, was apparent to the minister of Denbeth United Presbyterian Church,
Alexander Weir, as he travelled regularly between his parish and Glasgow.
He could see an opportunity for the extension of his Church into Eastmuir
and took the matter up with his Presbytery.
At this time, adherents to his Church in the Shettleston area had to
cross the fields and open countryside to Tollcross to worship.
The Presbytery met with interested local people in the summer of 1896 and the new congregation of Shettleston United Presbyterian Church was sanctioned as a charge by December. The congregation rented a small school to serve their purposes, where now sits Eastbank primary, then commissioned Rowan & Smith to build them a church and hall. Financial restraints soon interrupted the plan, and the church had to be postponed. However, by December 1899 the church hall was opened for use as a sanctuary and for other purposes.
When the hall was being built the congregation became aware that some stones from the old Free church which had stood at Gartocher Road (later Sandyhills Church of Scotland) were being incorporated into the structure. Initially upset, they were convinced by the builder that it was a sound economic measure and accepted the situation. Curiously this incident fore-shadowed the far more significant integration between the Free and United Presbyterian Churches in 1900, when the young congregation became Eastbank United Free Church.
By
1901, the original plans for building a church were put into effect and the
foundation stone was laid the following year.
The congregation was impatient of the time it took for construction - the
work was not completed until March, 1904 - but it was well worth the wait.
Should the congregation of Eastbank ever need to be reminded of the words
of the “Te Deum” they need only raise their eyes heavenward, for one of the
remarkable features of this church is the panelled ceiling with the ancient hymn
diagonally inscribed across its surface.
Eastbank,
one of two churches in the east of the city by W.G. Rowan, is now included among
several “B” Listed church buildings, and it is generally acknowledged to be
most important for the outstanding quality of its dark woodwork interior in the
Glasgow Style. At a time when many churches are having their interiors
radically altered to accommodate to the changing needs of the congregation,
Eastbank has taken particular pains to retain the overall effect of theirs,
despite removing some pews to create additional space in front of the communion
table.
This approach has proven expensive when working with some of the carved panels at the pulpit, since each of these, as well as all of those lining the galleries, are unique. The necessity for this action arose following a fire at the church on New Year’s Day, 1979, after which the help of the Art School was sought to effect repairs to the panels.
The open timber roofs of the aisles are stencilled and the Gothic Perpendicular arched window above the main door has had stained glass added to commemorate the fallen of the Great War of 1914-1918. The pipe organ was installed in 1904.
Another
memento of the earliest days of the congregation is the original bell by J.
Miller Reid of Glasgow & Greenock which sits in the vestibule of the church.
It was cast with a portrait of Samuel Chisholm who was Provost from
1899-1902. The bell remained in its
tower until 1995 when it was removed to its present location for safety’s
sake.
Twenty-five years after the opening of the new church building, its congregation entered into the Union with the Church of Scotland. Since then it has celebrated its centenary, in 1996. Reflecting the universal changes in church attendance, Eastbank and Carntyne Old Church of Scotland have been linked charges since 1983. This is a temporary linkage, but 20 years on Rev. Craig still provides services to both congregations.
Eastbank Parish Church (1996); “One Church, One Faith, One Lord. Eastbank Parish Church 1896-1996.” Eastbank Parish Church, Glasgow.
© 2005 Gordon Adams
GALLERY:
Detail
from the memorial window.
Towards
the rear of the Sanctuary