The origin of the congregation can be dated very precisely - it was a free Church congregation formed in 1843 in the wake of the disruption, and included in its number five of the elders of the old parish church, who in turn became the first Kirk Session of the newly formed congregation under the first minister, Rev Andrew Mackenzie, ordained on 24th August 1843. The original meetings were held in the Gardeners' Hall. Shortly after a more permanent place of worship was erected, despite a number of obstacles caused by the then landowner, Sir George Clerk, who found himself unable to support this break-away movement. However, he was not to succeed: on the death of an elderly lady by name of Helen Wilson, her cottage and garden were put up to public auction. They were bought by Charles Cowan, MP, who gifted them to the Free Church congregation. (The ground was held in lease for Sir George Clerk's estate, but as there were still 400 years of the lease to run, that was not seen as a great problem!)
The piece of ground was a rather odd shape - almost triangular - and this dictated the shape of the building. (which was opened in October). The building was roughly fan-shaped, the seating semi-circular, and the pulpit at the apex of the triangle. The front is about 100ft in length, and presents an economical Gothic structure. Unfortunately it has been somewhat altered in appearance over the years to accommodate changing needs, losing much of its original charm. This building, in West Street, is now used as the church halls.
Subsequently Sir George Clerk
must have undergone something of a change of heart, for he
gave a piece of ground beside the church so that a spacious
manse could be built.The manse was sold some time afterwards
and a new manse in Bog Road purchased - this served as
manse until the early 1980's, when the
former manse at 18 Broomhill Avenue was bought. The original
manse became the local police station and served in this
capacity for many years, until the present station was built.
For a time the building was used as a small factory, then
repurchased by the church in the mid 1970's and restored for
use as a suite of meeting rooms.
When in 1862 the congregation had clearly outgrown the church in West Street, Sir George Clerk showed himself to be still in sympathy with this new congregation, and granted the present site on the west side of the Peebles Road. the original church building became the halls shortly after this, and indeed was put to good use by both church and community, being at that time the only seated hall in the village suitable for meetings, concerts, and for municipal and political meetings.
The present church was designed by F T Pilkington.
It is an extraordinarily striking structure, although if Pilkington's original ideas had been carried through, it would
have been even more so. It was erected at a cost of £2,050,
and was capable of seating some 700 worshippers.
Characteristically, the maverick architect used dramatic
contrasts of scale - the weighty entrance is supported on
tiny shafts, and there was to have been a tall, dominant
spire on the exisiting squat tower. Heavily floriated
capitals decorate the explosion of geometry, while inside the
complex form of the varnished wooden ceiling dominates the
space. The plan is a square set diagonally to the main axis
with its corners removed, apart from the east corner which
extends into a galleried area. [click
to see original plans] Shafts
beside the pulpit (not original) are decorated with small
polished bosses. At that time the bridge across the river had
yet to be built - access on a Sunday morning was by ford (if
you came by carriage) or across the stepping stones if you
came on foot - times change!
The church was fitted with a two manual Harrison organ, now powered electrically, and recently extensively renovated. The console, originally situated towards the front of the church, was relocated at the rear of the church when the church underwent a major restoration programme in the late 1980's. Around the same time several pews were removed under the gallery to provide an area for small meetings, and for socialising after services.
After 11 years of active ministry, Mr McKenzie's health began to fail, and in 1854 his successor, Rev Hugh Stewart, was appointed.
He remained as minister till 1886; in December of that same year Rev Samuel Crockett was called unanimously by the congregation to be his successor. At that time the number of communicant members on the roll was 430.