Greenock Wellpark Mid Kirk Greenock Renfrewshire

The church in the heart of the town, with the town in its heart!

Wellpark Mid Kirk of Greenock (Church of Scotland) - Registered Scottish Charity Number SC001043

WMK is a parish church belonging to The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian).

 

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The Middle or New Parish congregation was formed in 1741. The date stone in the vestibule shows that the present building was begun on 1759 and opened in 1761. The 140 ft. spire and portico, modelled on St. Martin’s in the Fields, London, were completed in 1787. In 1996 the Mid Kirk & Wellpark West church united within this building. The building including the interior, is A listed.

Although altered over the years, it remains essentially an 18th century preaching station with central pulpit, underlining preaching as the central focus of Presbyterian worship. It easily seats over 1,000 but but looks and feels intimate even with a smaller number

The church is known as “The Toon Kirk,” the minister’s stipend originally being paid by the town council. The council still retain certain rights to the building such as the use of the gallery for the annual Kirkin’ of the Council, which still takes place. The seat at the front of the gallery is for the Provost.

The Windows

The Chancel Windows behind the pulpit were installed in 1951, paid for with compensation for war damage, the earlier windows having been destroyed in the blitz. They are by Douglas Hamilton, Glasgow, and are built in the tradition of Wren in the English Renaissance style.

The themes are the Blessings and Mercy of God. In addition to biblical scenes, the arts and local industries are featured. Their post-war date is easily identified by a depiction of the blitz and the Free French monument on Lyle Hill. Children like to try and list the many animals portrayed.

Only 2 of the 30 original stained glass windows survived the blitz and were restored in 1951.

The Bruce Window on the Clyde Square side depicting the Road to Emmaus was installed in 1866. It is in memory of Allan Bruce, a local businessman who also endowed a charitable fund for missionary work in Greenock. The minister of Wellpark Mid Kirk is automatically a trustee.

The Great War Memorial Window on the Bank Street side is a favourite with children as it contains a dragon.

The Boys’ Brigade Centenary Window celebrates the centenary of the Boys’ Brigade and is in memory of Lieutenant Duncan M. Campbell of 12th Greenock Company who died 23rd May 1980. The window was presented by his family.

The Organ

The organ was installed in 1867, the first in a Church of Scotland in Greenock, and necessitated the removal of the old pulpit. At one point the organ console sat in the middle of the centre aisle! It is an exceptional instrument and in 2008 had a £93,000 overhaul, made possible by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £50,000

Memorials

In addition to the Great War memorial window, there are plaques on either side of the chancel recording those who served in the World Wars from the Mid Kirk and Wellpark West. In addition, when Cartsdyke Church closed its war memorials from the former Cartsburn Augustine and Crawfurdsburn churches were re-sited in the alcove to the right at the front.

Under the gallery, above the centre door, is a memorial for the South Africa Campaign, 1899-1902

Upstairs there are marbles for Lt. Col. Henry Crawfurd and Capt. George Stewart, who fell in 1813.

The colours of the 5th Batt. Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders were presented by King Edward VII in 1909 and were laid up in the gallery here in 1961.

A marble commemorates five doctors who died as a while working during the fever epidemic of 1864-65.

The Scott marble from 1875 commemorates William Scott who was born in America but returned to his father’s homeland and founded an orphanage.

Quentin Leitch, a local merchant and Chief Magistrate, is commemorated in a marble dated 1827. This may be the earliest carved figure in the town.

Other Fixtures

The Communion Table was dedicated in 1925 and is in memory of the Rev. D. S. Peters, MA. A man of many parts, an excellent scholar, he died in office in 1924 in his 79th year having served in the Mid Kirk for 49 of them.

The font came from Wellpark West. Originally gifted in 1904 to commemorate the semi-jubilee of the Rev. Wm. Wilson “on behalf of the children baptised by him.”

The bowl is in memory of Mairi Runciman, the wife of another former Wellpark West minister.