Beith Parish Churches facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beith Parish Church |
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| High:55°44′58″N 4°37′53.5″W / 55.74944°N 4.631528°W Trinity:55°45′15″N 4°37′44.5″W / 55.75417°N 4.629028°W |
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| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Website | Beith Parish Churches |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Beith |
| Presbytery | Ardrossan |
Beith Parish Church is a special place of worship in Beith, Scotland. It was created when two older churches, Beith High Church and Beith Trinity Church, joined together. Today, church services are held in the beautiful building that used to be Beith High Church.
Contents
The High Church Building
The Beith High Church building is quite old and has a lot of history. It was first built way back in 1807. Later, in 1885, it was made even bigger.
Design and Features
This church has a unique design called a Gothic T-plan. It means the building looks like the letter 'T' from above. A very tall, five-part tower stands out. Inside, you can see amazing stained glass windows made by an artist named Gordon Webster. There's also a large pipe organ from 1885, built by Harrison & Harrison.
Historical Importance
The High Church is considered a very important historical building. It is a 'category B listed building'. This means it's protected because of its special architectural or historical value.
The Trinity Church Building
The Beith Trinity Church building was built in 1883. It was designed by a famous architect named Robert Baldie.
Design and Features
The most striking part of Trinity Church was its elegant eight-sided tower. Sadly, a fire in 1917 badly damaged the inside of the church. It was rebuilt in 1926. The church has a Gothic style, with a rectangular main hall (nave) and a special arched area for the altar (chancel). It also had a side section (transept) on the east side. The stained glass windows were made by John C Hall & Co. An organ from 1937, built by Hill, Norman & Beard, was also a key feature.
Historical Importance
Like the High Church, Trinity Church is also a protected historical building. It is a 'category C listed building', meaning it has special local importance.
Church Records
The old records and documents from Beith Church are kept safe. They are looked after by the Archives of the University of Glasgow. These records help us learn about the church's past.
Church Bells Update
In November 2023, something interesting happened with the church bells. The church had a modern electric bell system. Some people living nearby made a complaint about the noise. Because of this, the bells are now quiet during the nighttime hours.
