Architecture

The Earl of Eglinton granted the congregation a free site and Dr McGregor Chalmers was chosen as tbe Architect. The first sod was cut by Mrs McIsaac on the 6th June 1907, and the chuch was dedicated by her on 3rd December 1908.

The stone used in the construction of the church was obtained from Lylestone Quarry, where the majority of conversion and masonry was undertaken. It is a beautiful dove-gray stone. Carved on the stone walls and on some of the extremely attractive pillars are Scripture texts suitably chosen with reference to their position within the Church. Some of the internal facing stones also have decorative crosses. There are several very interesting carvings around the south west doorway, and also behind the choir pews in the chancel.

The main church building was originally designed to include a spire on top of the main tower, but some afterthought resulted in the decision to abandon this idea in favour of the structure that we now have. An artistic impression of the tower and spire certainly gives the effect of an unbalanced building, and not in keeping with the basic Norman profile. The Norman Tower above the south-west doorway is 100 feet in height and over 17 feet square. The bell has recently been removed for safety reasons. The church tower is used as an ordnance survey trig. point for Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston area.

The foundation of the church building is substantial and includes extensive underbuilding, varying in depth from 5 feet to approximately 13 feet. In other church properties the area might be described as an Undercroft, but so far as we are aware there is a totally void space, containing mainly dust and sand - certainly no bodies.

The church grounds which were gifted to the Church by the Earl of Eglinton were previously used as playing fields by Ardrossan Academy, then situated in South Crescent, Ardrossan.The final cost of the completed church in 1908 was £8,000. The replacement cost at today’s value is probably in the range of £3,000,000.

The Oxford Dictionary describes a chancel as “that part of a church reserved for Clergy and Choir and containing the sanctuary”. It is, of course, the central focus of worship of any church, particularly our own. It is certain that our church has a fine and well presented chancel, admired by the congregation and all visitors. Several individual features of adornment are of interest and these are more detailed elsewhere.

Carvings