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Menstrie Parish Church

28 September 2024 (10:00 - 16:30)

29 September 2024 (14:00 - 16:30)

Clackmannanshire

In Person

2024 Theme

Menstrie Parish Church is at the centre of the village and has been a place of worship since 1880, its foundation stone having been laid by Alexander McNab on 10th June 1879. It was designed by the architect James Collie in a plain, neo-Gothic style. A church hall of similar style was built in 1898.

The church has had close connections with the former local industries of weaving and distilling, Menstrie having been the centre of the Distillers Company Ltd.

There is a fine four-light stained glass window at the south end of the church. The memorial inscription at the foot of the window records that it was erected in memory of James Johnston and his wife Margaret McNab Johnston of Broom Hall by their family and unveiled and consecrated in August 1925.

The Johnston and McNab families had been involved in the industry of Menstrie for many years; the Johnstons owned a woollen mill and in 1846 Alexander and William McNab bought Dolls Distillery and renamed it Glenochil Distillery. By 1871 Alexander McNab was the proprietor and also owned the Middleton Kerse estate. In 1877 he joined with others to form the Distillers Company Ltd.

Both Mr and Mrs Johnston had been actively involved in the church and the village. Their son and his wife continued this involvement and in 1926 presented new pulpit robes to the Minister.

The father of actor Gregor Fisher was organist here many years ago; Gregor also played the organ during a visit to the church, in the course of researching his family background.

The church is used, in addition to Sunday worship, by a large number of Church and community organisations, with activities happening every day and on most evenings.

Volunteers will be available to speak to visitors about the church, stained-glass window and the banners marking different events throughout the year of the Church. The organist may play on Saturday morning.