
Westburn Parish Church - Greenock, UK
Posted by:
neoc1
N 55° 56.945 W 004° 46.012
30U E 389666 N 6201822
The Classical Revival style Westburn Parish Church is located at 9 Nelson Street in Greenock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Waymark Code: WM184Y2
Location: Southern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/31/2023
Views: 0
Sources:
Scotland's Church Trust: (
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Westburn Parish Church: (
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Westburn Parish Church History: (
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Since it first opened the current church has been known as the The West Kirk, The Old Kirk, St. Luke’s and finally the Westburn Church. The history of the church dated back to 1589 when a charter to form a reform church was signed by King James VI. The church was opened on the 4th October 4, 1591. As Greenock grew as a shipping port a new church was needed and the West Parish Church was designed in the Classical Revival style by David Cousin and built in 1840. The church opened in 1841 and the central steeple was added in 1855.
In the 20th century the churches in Greenock merged. In 1955 St. Mark’s and Greenbank Churches united to form St. Mark’s Greenbank Church and in 1966 West Kirk and Gaelic Parish Churches united to form the Old Kirk Church. In 1979 the North Kirk and St. Columba’s Gaelic united to form the Old West Church and in 1983 St George’s and the Martyr’s and North Churches united to form St. George’s North Church. In 1987 St. Marks Greenbank and Old Kirk united to form St. Luke’s Church and finally in 2007 St. George’s North and St. Luke’s Churches united to form Westburn Church in the current building.
The stone block building has a central entrance flanked by rectangular windows. Above the entrance is a tall covered arch covered with a balcony at it's base. The arch is flanked by smaller arched windows the with balconies. The window on the right is covered.
Rising from the center of the building is the 1855 five stage steeple. The stages are progressively smaller. The four lower stages are square towers with a central arch flanked by pairs of columns. The lowest stage has a arched window. The second stage has a louvered arch. The third and fourth stages have open arches. On the top is a hexagonal spire. A clock was once located between the second and third stages. The sides are five bays deep with arched windows at each bay.
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