St Blane's Church, Dunblane facts for kids
St Blane's Church is a special church found in Dunblane, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. This church is known for its strong Christian beliefs. The beautiful building was first opened in 1854. It was built in a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old castles and cathedrals. Today, it is a protected building because of its history and design.
Contents
The Story of St Blane's Church
The story of St Blane's Church began a long time ago. In the 1700s and 1800s, there were some disagreements within the Church of Scotland. These arguments were mostly about how church leaders, called ministers, were chosen. People wanted to have more say in who led their churches.
Early Beginnings: The Seceders
Because of these disagreements, some groups decided to form their own churches. One such group, called the Seceders, started a church in Dunblane in 1758. They built their first meeting place in an area now known as the Haining. This group grew over time and became its own separate church in 1766.
Over the years, this church changed its name several times. It was known as Associate, then First Associate Burgher, then United Secession, and later United Presbyterian. In 1900, it became the Leighton United Free Church of Scotland. Amazingly, this church had only three ministers in 134 years!
The Big Split: The Disruption of 1843
Another big event happened in 1843. This was called the Disruption of 1843. Many ministers and church members decided to leave the main Church of Scotland. They formed a new group called the Free Church of Scotland.
In Dunblane, the local minister and most of his church leaders joined this new Free Church. By October 1843, they had built a new church building. It was big enough for 521 people and was full on its first Sunday. However, this first building wasn't quite right. So, in 1854, they built a second, better church across the street. This second building is the one that eventually became St Blane's Church. The old building was later turned into homes.
Joining Together: New Names and Unions
In 1900, the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church joined together. This new group was called the United Free Church of Scotland. Because of this, the church in Dunblane became known as Dunblane East United Free Church.
Then, in 1929, the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church also joined forces. This meant that Dunblane had three churches from the same group: the Cathedral, the Leighton Church, and the East Church. After some discussions, the Leighton and East churches decided to combine. In 1952, they officially united to form St Blane's Church. The East Church building became the home for this new combined church. The old Leighton Church building was later turned into a house.
Joining churches can sometimes be tricky, but for St Blane's, it worked out well. The church quickly became a strong and active part of the community. As Dunblane grew in the 1960s, many new members joined St Blane's. Today, St Blane's Church and Dunblane Cathedral work together. They offer different styles of worship, but both are important parts of the Christian community in Dunblane.
What Happens at St Blane's?
St Blane's Church is a busy place with lots of activities for all ages.
Sunday Services
- 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 and toddlers.
- In the evenings, there is another service and a prayer meeting at 6:30 PM.
Weekday Activities
- Throughout the week, the church hosts many different groups.
- These include the Boys' Brigade and the Girls' Brigade, which are youth organizations.
- The Church of Scotland Guild also meets here.
- Many small groups meet in homes for Bible study throughout the year.
- The church also runs Alpha Courses from time to time, which are a great way to explore the Christian faith.
See also
