Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church

Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church from the Flint Mill on the River Kelvin Walkway
Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church from the Flint Mill on the River Kelvin Walkway

In the late 19th century some of the larger congregations in Glasgow were asked to sponsor the building of churches in the new expanding areas.  It was originally intended to convert  the North Woodside mission hall into a regular church, but objections from adjacent house owners who used the vacant land  for access blocked it. Several sites were then considered before settling on this one.

A major benefactor was John J. Stevenson, a wealthy shipowner and his nephew was appointed as architect.  The church was named after his father, Nathaniel Stevenson, a well-known  Free Kirk elder, merchant and philanthropist.  Building work was carried out by William Taylor who was also responsible for building the Rennie Mackintosh church at Queens Cross.

As the work proceeded a number of additions and alterations were made, paid for by by James Stevenson. He  said that although the church had originally been intended for the poor, “the conspicuous site chosen  demanded a much better treatment than first envisaged”.

The social parts of the buildings, such as halls and rooms,  were designed to be entered from the low road (Garriochmill Rd). This provided convenient access for the people of North Woodside area for whom they were intended. The main church itself is entered from Belmont Street, more convenient for the church members who would have come from Kelvinside and Hillhead.

The current congregation is an amalgamation of a number of local churches.