Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship, and Practice

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Contend For
    • What We Believe
    • How We Worship
    • How We Are Organised
    • Important Documents
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Articles
  • Publications
    • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Young People’s Magazine
    • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
    • Synod Reports
    • Religion and Morals Committee Reports
  • Audio
    • Sermons
    • Theological Conferences
    • Youth Conferences
  • Congregations
    • Places of Worship
    • Current Ministers
    • Galleries of FP Churches
  • International
    • Zimbabwe Mission
    • Other International Congregations
    • Translation Work
    • Metrical Psalms in Various Languages
  • History
    • History of the FP Church
    • Congregational Histories
    • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
    • Obituaries and Synod Tributes
    • Moderators of Synod etc.
  • Spiritual Help
    • How to Find Spiritual Help
    • How may a sinner be saved?
    • How may someone know if they are truly saved?
    • Spiritual Mindedness
    • Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2020-21
  • Bookshop
Home / History / Congregational histories / Glasgow history

Glasgow history

Glasgow—St Jude’s

Following the Assembly of 1893, services were held in the Blythswood Halls in the city centre with 300 people attending, most from the Main Street (Gaelic) Free Church in Bridgeton. Shortly thereafter a church belonging to an evangelical episcopalian congregation, St Jude’s, 278 West George Street, became vacant and was rented by the congregation and subsequently purchased and renovated.

Old St Jude's in 1974

Old St Jude’s church in 1974

In November 1893 Neil Cameron, Divinity Student, was placed in charge of the congregation.  He was licensed to preach on 9 December 1895 and on 9 January 1896 he was ordained and inducted to the charge, the call being signed by 730 people. Rev. Neil Cameron remained minister of St Jude’s for 36 years until his death, aged 77, on 9 March 1932.

During the early part of the century there was a considerable influx of people from the Highlands to Glasgow and the congregation grew considerably.

Rev. Roderick MacKenzie (1864-1958) was inducted in December 1932 but after 12 years, he resigned on the grounds of ill health.  He had had a difference of opinion with the Synod and in 1945 a large section of the congregation who sympathised with his position began to hold separate services in another building in the city. Mr MacKenzie ministered to these people until his death. By this move, the St Jude’s congregation was much reduced in size.

Rev. D.J. Matheson (1890-1962), was inducted on 20 September 1946.  In January 1960, after 14 years in Glasgow, Mr Matheson left to minister to the Stratherrick congregation.

Rev. Donald Maclean (1915–2010), was translated from Portree to Glasgow in June 1960.  Mr Maclean had been baptised in St Jude’s by Rev. Neil Cameron and became a communicant member there in 1937.  After 39 years’ ministry in St Jude’s Mr Maclean resigned in 2000 due to deteriorating eyesight.

In 1975 the congregation moved from the building in Blythswood Square to 133 Woodlands Road.

Rev. Roderick Macleod, the current minister, was translated to Glasgow from Tarbert, North Harris   in October 2001.

 

John Knox’s Tabernacle

In 1852 Rev. J.R. Anderson and most of his congregation, including more than 200 communicants, separated from the Free Church, and built the John Knox Tabernacle on Margaret Street in the Gorbals. Mr Anderson ministered there until his death at the age of 56, following which his elders continued to hold services, reading his sermons to the congregation. In 1895 the congregation applied to be received into the Free Presbyterian Church.  Rev. N. Cameron preached the first sermon from the words: “Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitary in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old” (Micah 7:14).

The Rev. James S. Sinclair (1867-1921) was inducted over this congregation on 7 April 1896. He died suddenly on 30 May 1921, aged 53.

Following the death of Mr Sinclair it was agreed that services in John Knox’s, then being held in a hall in 2 Calton Place, should cease and the members and adherents be received into St Jude’s congregation.

History

  • History of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
  • Congregational histories
    • Aberdeen history
    • Aberfeldy history
    • Clydebank history
    • Edinburgh history
    • Glasgow history
    • Inverness history
    • Kames history
    • London history
    • Northampton history
    • North Uist history
    • Stirling history
    • Stoer history
    • Stornoway history
    • Sydney history
    • Ullapool & Lochinver History
  • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
  • Obituaries and Synod Tributes
    • Rev Alexander Macaskill (1895-1982) – Obituary
    • Rev Johannes A T van Dorp (1931-2013) – Obituary
    • Rev Petros Mzamo (1918-2012) – Obituary
    • Rev Fraser Macdonald (1924-2013) – Obituary
    • Rev Zororai Mazvabo (1941-2012) – Obituary
    • Rev Hugh M Cartwright (1943-2011) – Obituary
    • Rev Aaron B Ndebele (1925-2004) – Obituary
    • Rev Donald MacLean (1915-2010) – Obituary
    • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
    • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
    • Rev Angus MacKay (1919-1998) – Obituary
    • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
    • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
    • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
    • Miss Bella Murray, North Tolsta (1907-1998)- Obituary
    • Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway (1906-1999) – Obituary
    • Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta (1908-2000) – Obituary
    • Miss Jean Nicolson ( 1908-2000) – Obituary
    • Donald Mackenzie (Domhnuill Tailear) North Tolsta (1833-1922) – Obituary
    • Murdoch Nicolson (Edinburgh) 1921-1997 – Obituary
    • Rev Alexander McPherson (1915-2000) – Obituary
    • Mr Ian Munro MacLeod, Dingwall (1923-2001) – Obituary
    • Edward Arthur Christensen, Auckland (1915-2002) – Obituary
    • Robert Ross, Foindle (1920-2004)
    • William MacBeth Applecross (1835-1917) – Obituary
  • Moderators of Synod etc.

Calendar

  1. 9 Mar - Meeting of Presbyteries: Western and Northern
  2. 16 Mar - 17 Mar - Synod Committee meetings
  3. 23 Mar - Meeting of Presbytery: Outer Isles

View All Events

Latest Articles

  • Approaching Judgments – Part 6
  • Youth Conference 2021
  • Special Offers on New Books for March

Recently Added Audio

  • Our responses to what Christ says 11 Oct 2020
  • Nehemiah and the fear of God 11 Oct 2020
  • Who is worthy to open the book? 20 Sep 2009
  • Lazarus at the table with Christ 20 Sep 2009
  • Sons of God 27 Dec 2020
  • Mine eyes have seen thy salvation 27 Dec 2020
  • Direction for Joshua 4 Oct 2020
  • God pleased to use preaching 4 Oct 2020
  • Enduring by faith 27 Dec 2020
  • I was brought low 3 Jan 2021

View All Sermons

Download Latest Issues:
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
Young People’s Magazine

Free Presbyterian Places of Worship

Browse the Church Bookshop

Messages from Captivity: Sermons from Ezekiel 1-24 by Allan W MacColl, £6.79
A Day’s March Nearer Home: Autobiography of J Graham Miller edited by Iain H Murray £12.79
The Quest for Full Assurance: The Legacy of Calvin and His Successors Joel R Beeke, £9.59
The World Conquered by the Faithful Christian by Richard Alleine, £9.59
Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots by J C Ryle,  £11.99

Back to top

Website Contact

Rev Keith M Watkins
[email protected]

Moderator of Synod

Rev J Bruce Jardine
FP Manse, Tarbert
Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF
UK

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
Free Presbyterian Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA, UK.
[email protected]

General Treasurer

Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
[email protected]

Copyright © 2021 Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland · Log in · Subscribe via RSS · Privacy Notice

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more.