Springburn Virtual Museum

Community life

Laying the foundation stone of Wellfield United Presbyterian Church, 1899

By 1895, it was felt in United Presbyterian circles that a new church was necessary in the Springburn area, in addition to the one already existing in Springburn Road, known as Johnston Church. Initially a wooden hall was built in 'Knox's Opening' (later Torrance Street) for 350 people.

However, a permanent church building was opened in Balgrayhill Road on 5 October 1899, built on ground purchased from James Reid of Wellfield. The Corporation had just laid an electric cable along the road outside the church, so Wellfield was possibly the first in Glasgow to be lit by electricity.

Wellfield's congregation, in common with that of many other churches in the late 20th century, declined and in the late 1970s it was agreed to merge with several others in Springburn to form the new Springburn Parish Church. The building was burned down by vandals and demolished on 27 June 1983.

Source: Glasgow City Archives