Burleigh Memorial Church

Blantyre's Ain Website

Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Old Blantyre Churches

Burleigh Memorial Church

Rev. John BurleighThere must have been a connection between the Anderson Church and the Burleigh Church, because it was also a Free Church. It began life as a ‘mission church’ for the east end of the town. A mission hall was erected in 1878 in Herbertson Street, off Glasgow Road. In 1892 it was raised to full church status and so a church was built next to the mission hall, which then became the church hall. And was known as ‘Blantyre East Free Church’. In 1889 it was given its first minister, Rev. John Burleigh. In 1900 it became ‘Blantyre East United Free Church’. Like the Anderson, it joined to form part of the new Church of Scotland in 1929 and became known as ‘Blantyre East Church of Scotland’. After World War 2 it was renamed ‘Burleigh Memorial Church of Scotland’ after its first Minister (Rev. John Burleigh 1889-1922).

The first union and readjustment in the town was in 1965 when the Burleigh Memorial was united with Stonefield Parish to become ‘Stonefield Burleigh Memorial Parish Church’. It was decided that the Burleigh halls would be used as the halls of the new congregation, but that the Stonefield building would become the church for Sunday worship. However, the church hall was burned down in 1973 and the Burleigh Church in 1974.

East Free ChurchBlantyre East Free Church Mission Hall in Glasgow Road at Herbertson Street c1890, with old Police Station on the right. The main Church was built in front in 1892 and the Mission Hall becoming the Church Hall, all later renamed Burleigh Memorial Church post 1945.

Services began in 1878 and the Mission Hall erected in in May 1878. The memorial stone for a permanent church was laid on 12th March 1892 and the church was opened on Saturday, 3rd December, 1892 at a cost of £1,620 (about £250,000 in today’s value), and seating 500. It was renamed after the union with the Church of Scotland as the Burleigh Memorial Church of Scotland after its first minister the Rev. John Burleigh from 1889 – 1922, in 1945. The church and hall was destroyed by fire during the 1970’s – the hall in 1973 and the church in January 1974.

Burleigh ChurchAilean McLeman (Roberts) writes, ” Back in Herbertson Street, opposite our house, on the corner with Glasgow Road, was the Burleigh Memorial Church, another building where I spent a great deal of my time up to about the age of 15. My Mum was the church organist at that time and Dad was a church elder, so every Sunday would find Jim (my brother ) and I at church and Sunday School and later on Bible Classes. The church hall was at the side of the church and most week nights for me were spent either at Brownies then the guides, country dancing classes, youth fellowship or singing at the women’s guild (one of the drawbacks of having a Mum who played piano for most of the organisations using the hall!). The Burleigh Church eventually, due to dwindling numbers (I think), amalgamated with Stonefield Church and the name disappeared. I think it may now be St Andrew’s Church”.

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Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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