KENMUIR
MOUNT VERNON CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
2405,
London Road, Mount Vernon
Sitting
in a rather isolated location, and to some extent dependent upon a car-owning
membership as a consequence, the church of Kenmuir Mount Vernon has nevertheless
experienced something of a revival of its fortunes in recent years.
This has been attributed in no small way by its congregation to the
induction of its present minister, Rev. Murdo Maclean.
It was built in 1882-83 as Kenmuir Church on the lands of the same name, in the south western part of the Old Monkland Parish. It was intended to provide for the local population of about 3,000 in Carmyle, Mount Vernon, Fullarton, Broomhouse and the Clyde Iron Works.
Originally a Chapel of Ease, it was later erected to a fully quoad sacra parish as Kenmuir Church of Scotland and was disjoined from Old Monkland Parish. It was not until 1932 that it acquired the addition of Mount Vernon to its title, reflecting the increase in importance of that part of the parish and the territorial adjustments taking place in the wake of the Church union of 1929. In 1976, when Glasgow once again expanded its municipal authority, the church was transferred to Glasgow Presbytery from that of Hamilton.
The
church itself is of a Gothic revival design with Early English features,
executed in snecked ashlar with polished dressings. It has a delicate, octagonal turret with belfry and spire at
its south west corner. The masonry
is blond sandstone, but it has developed a darkened finish due to the once
heavily polluted environment that afflicted so many Glasgow and district
buildings. Consideration has been
given to cleaning, but it is feared that the stonework is too fragile to survive
the rigours of the process.
In the south gable are three tall, lancet windows containing a stained glass representation of the Sermon on the Mount, with illustrations of the Beatitudes. This was made in 1904 in memory of John Miller of Greenoakhill, another local estate. Above is a cusped, circular window also with stained glass and the inscription “I have not come to destroy but to fulfil.” The congregation are justifiably proud of their glass and in recent years it was found that the lead was deteriorating, endangering its survival. Despite the very heavy costs involved, they made a brave decision to preserve the history of the building they had inherited and undertook its full restoration at a cost of about £15,000.
The aisles are separated from the nave by arcades of pointed arches on cast iron pillars with elaborate foliage motif capitals. The overall impression is of a narrow but high space with a hammerbeam roof, all well lit by aisle and clerestory windows, the latter containing uniform and simple stained glass. The pattern is echoed in the lancet windows in the chancel, and in the round window high in the north gable. The pulpit, beneath a typically dominant organ in the fashion of the period, is unusually wide.
It was not until 1929 that Carmyle acquired its own more local facility when Carmyle United Free Church became Carmyle Church of Scotland. In 1978, the charges of Kenmuir Mount Vernon and Carmyle were linked; an arrangement which continues.
© 2006 Gordon Adams
