St Blane's Church, Dunblane facts for kids
St Blane's is a church in Dunblane, Scotland. It is part of the Church of Scotland. The church building is very old and beautiful, built in a style called Gothic Revival. It first opened in 1854 and is now a special building protected for its history. This means it's important to Scottish heritage.
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The History of St Blane's Church
The story of St Blane's Church began a long time ago. It started because of disagreements within the Church of Scotland in the 1700s and 1800s. These arguments were mostly about who should choose the church ministers.
Early Beginnings: The Seceders
In 1758, a group of people called Seceders formed their own church in Dunblane. They built their first meeting house in an area now called the Haining. This group grew over time and became a separate church in 1766.
Their church changed names several times over the years. It was known as the Associate, then First Associate Burgher, then United Secession, and later United Presbyterian. In 1900, it became Leighton United Free Church of Scotland. The original meeting house was rebuilt in 1836.
The Big Split: The Disruption of 1843
Another major event happened in 1843, known as the Disruption of 1843. This was a big split in the Church of Scotland. Many ministers and their church members left to form a new group called the Free Church of Scotland.
In Dunblane, the minister and most of the church leaders left to start a Free Church. They quickly built a new church in October 1843. However, this first building wasn't quite right. So, in 1854, a second church was built across the street. This second building is what we know today as St Blane's Church. The old building was later turned into houses.
Joining Together: New Church Names
In 1900, the United Presbyterian and Free Churches joined to form the United Free Church of Scotland. At this point, the church in Dunblane became known as Dunblane East United Free Church.
Later, in 1929, the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church came together. This meant there were three churches of the same kind in Dunblane: the Cathedral, the Leighton, and the East churches.
Forming St Blane's Church
After some discussions, the Leighton and East churches decided to join forces. In 1952, these two congregations united to create St Blane's Church. The East Church building became the new home for the united congregation. The old Leighton Church building was later turned into a house.
This joining of churches went very smoothly in Dunblane. St Blane's quickly became a strong and welcoming church. As Dunblane grew in the 1960s, many new members joined. St Blane's and Dunblane Cathedral work well together. They offer different styles of worship, but both are important parts of the community.
Church Activities and Community
St Blane's Church is a busy place! On Sunday mornings, there is a family service at 10:00 AM. This service includes an active Sunday School for children and a creche for babies. In the evenings, there is another service and a prayer meeting at 6:30 PM.
Throughout the week, the church hosts many groups. These include the Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, and the Church of Scotland Guild. There are also bible study groups that meet in people's homes. Sometimes, the church runs special courses like the Alpha Course, which helps people explore the Christian faith.
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