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 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 the High Church, located on Kirk Road.
Contents
Discovering Beith Parish Church
Beith Parish Church is more than just a building; it's a place where people come together. It brings together the history and traditions of two important churches in the town of Beith.
The Story of Beith High Church
The Beith High Church building is very old, first built in 1807. Imagine, that's over 200 years ago! It was made even bigger in 1885. This church has a special design called "Gothic T-plan," which means it looks a bit like the letter 'T' from above.
What Makes High Church Special?
One of the most noticeable parts of the High Church is its tall tower. It has five sections, making it stand out in the town. Inside, you can see amazing stained glass windows created by an artist named Gordon Webster. There's also a large pipe organ, built by Harrison & Harrison in 1885, which makes beautiful music.
The High Church is considered a "Category B listed building." This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected because of its special architecture and history.
The History of Beith Trinity Church
The Beith Trinity Church was built a bit later, in 1883. It was designed by a clever architect named Robert Baldie. Sadly, the inside of this church was damaged by a fire in 1917, but it was rebuilt and reopened in 1926.
Unique Features of Trinity Church
The Trinity Church also has a Gothic style, like many old churches. Its most striking feature on the outside is a graceful tower shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape). Inside, it has a main hall called a nave, a special area for the altar called a chancel, and a side section known as a transept.
The stained glass windows in Trinity Church were made by John C Hall & Co. It also had its own organ, built in 1937 by Hill, Norman & Beard. The Trinity Church is a "Category C listed building," which also means it's an important historical building, though perhaps not as rare as a Category B building.
Church Records and History
If you're interested in the past, the old records and important papers from Beith Church are kept safe. They are looked after by the Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS). These archives help us learn about the church's long history and the people who were part of it.
A Change in Tradition
For over 200 years, the church bells at Beith Parish Church rang out regularly. However, in November 2023, this long-standing tradition came to an end. This change happened after a single concern was raised about the noise from the bells.
