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Barlanark-Greyfriars Parish Church
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Church History
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On Saturday 9th October 1954 , the Foundation Stone was laid
for the original Hall Church to serve the Parish of Barlanark and Wellhouse.
The story of the church in this community however, does not begin at this
point; it goes back further. The very first service of worship was held on
Sunday 14th December 1953 and the first minister , the Rev W. P. McNaughton was
inducted to the parish on the 30th March 1954. The church first met in Sandaig
School, Linsmore Place and only moved to the present site when the
"Hut" was erected on what became the permanent site and home of the
congregation
Barlanark goes back further in antiquity. The area is
mentioned in King David's "Inquisition of 1116". This inquisition was
an ancient survey of all lands formerly belonging to the Church of St. Mungo in
Glasgow and which had been lost to the church during the 500 years after the
death of the city's patron saint. Between 1147 and 1164 Bishop Herbert gave
Barlanark cum Budlornoc the original name of the district known as Balornock
today to augment the Prebend of Cadzic. Barlanark thus became one of the 32
prebenderies of the Church of Glasgow (the Cathedral). It had a canon known as
the Canon of Barlanark and because of the the change of the word Prebend to the
Scottish form of Provand , the Canon of Barlanark became known as the Laird
Provand of Provan. The Laird Provand had a country seat in Provan Hall.
He had a room in Glasgow which came to bear his name ,
Provand's Lordship, the oldest dwelling house in the city.
After the Reformation , the area was included in the Barony
Parishes formed in 1596. In 1847 the portion to the east of the city was given
over to the parish of Shettleston. Later the area of Barlanark came under the
parish of Sandyhills so , in effect, Sandyhills is the 'mother church' of our
own, a fact recorded in the gifts given to us when the church community was
established. Barlanark Estate of the present day is only a portion of the
original Prebendary of Barlanark and dates from the 1820's. It was occupied by
an illustrious Glasgow family , the Hills , who could trace their direct
descent from Robert the Bruce.
The Kirk in Barlanark thrived after the move to the present
site. There was a service for the laying of the foundation stone on the 9th
October and from then the folk who had struggled to get a church in this
community knew they also had a permanent home. The building was completed in
1956 and served as a 'Hall church' until 1970. In the intervening years the
congregation rose enormously and with it the organisations. The work of the
parish so prospered that when Mr Turnbull was minister it was felt that a new
Sanctuary was the answer to the overcrowding , the need for two services on a
Sunday and the constant requirement of shifting chairs around to face stage one
day and chancel the next . The present sanctuary was completed and dedicated in
1970 during the ministry of Mr Ellis.
It was also in this year that the name Greyfriars was added
to the name of the church. Prior to this the church had been known as Barlanark
& Wellhouse Parish Church: from April 1970 the church became known by it's
present name. This was as a result of receiving some money from the sale of the
Greyfriars church building which had stood in Albion Street.
The Kirk in this area has gone through many stages in its
short life but the Kirk, we must always remember , is not synonymous with the
church. Our Kirk stands as a physical witness to the people who live in this
area. It is a major feature for all passing along the old Edinburgh Road and to
many , I am sure it marked the return home to Glasgow. The Church though is the
people of God who have witnessed to His Son down through the years.
For all who still pray and work in the parish , we also
thank Almighty God and may we like those who have gone before us , serve
faithfully in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ