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THE STORY OF THE CLARK MEMORIAL CHURCH
,
LARGS
By The Rev. Charles H. H. ScobieWritten post-January 1961
FOREWARD
In compiling this booklet I have been greatly indebted to those who have, in the past,produced similar works, all of which are now out of print.My indebtedness to Miss Martha H. Mclntyre's volume, "From Generation to Generation;1779-1942"
,
will readily be apparent. I have also drawn heavily on a leaflet and a 'Year.Book' compiled by my predecessor. Rev. D. Iain McMillan, parts of which I have nothesitated to incorporate into this work. Thanks are due to 'The Largs and Millport Weekly News' for their helpfulness in making theirfiles available and especially to Mr Alex. Simpson for his interest and for the use of thephotographic-blocks. I am further indebted to Mr Hugh Honeyman for collecting theadvertisements and to the advertisers themselves for their generous support; also to Mr John McArthur for reading the proofs, to Mr Hugh Alexander for assistance in seeing thebooklet through the press and to 'The Greenock Telegraph' printing office.It has been necessary to condense much of the material available in order to compassmany years within a few pages, but it is to be hoped that members and friends of thecongregation and visitors to Largs will find both interest and inspiration in this, 'The Storyof Clark Memorial Church'.1
 
CHARLES H. H. SCOBIE
Clark Memorial Manse, Largs
"
THE CATHEDRAL OF THE WEST
"From whatever direction one approaches the town of Largs, whether catching one's firstglimpse from the top of the Haylie Brae, or travelling by road northwards from Fairlie, orsouthwards from Skelmorlie, or sailing on the waters of the Firth of Clyde, one of the firstthings to catch the eye is the tall spire of Clark Memorial Church. Every year hundreds of visitors admire the beauty of the building and worship within its walls. The congregationare proud of the title which their Church has earned for itself, of being "The Cathedral of the West". The Church was completed in the year 1892, but the congregation is considerably olderthan that. It is today a congregation of The Church of Scotland, which regards itself as partof the one, holy and universal Church of Jesus Christ, Reformed in doctrine, accepting TheBible as the rule of faith and morals and Presbyterian in government.Originally, the congregation belonged to the branch of Scottish Presbyterianism known asthe Associate or Burgher Presbytery, that is, those who followed in the footsteps of theScottish minister, Ebenezer Erskine, who led the First Secession in 1733. The secederswere evangelical and zealous Churchmen who objected to patronage and to Stateinterference in the affairs of the Church. A Second Secession, over similar issues, tookplace in 1761 and a large number of the seceding Churches joined forces in 1847 to formthe United Presbyterian or "U.P." Church which was noted as being fervently evangelical,independent and liberal. Clark Memorial is thus "an old U.P." Church.In 1900 a further union took place between the United Presbyterian Church and the FreeChurch, resulting in the formation of The United Free Church. Fortunately, patronage wasin due course abolished and other changes made in the established Church of Scotlandwhich allowed The United Free Church to re-unite with it in 1929 to form the Church of Scotland, both national and free and incorporating the great majority of Presbyterians andindeed a considerable percentage of the population of Scotland.Clark Memorial Church has, of course, its own individual history and traditions. It is thepurpose of this booklet to tell, however briefly, the story of the congregation and also tofurnish a description of the present building which will enable both members and visitors toappreciate to the full "The Cathedral of the West".
THE FOUNDING FATHERS
 The congregation of what is now Clark Memorial Church had its origin in the year 1779,when at a meeting of the Burgher Presbytery of Glasgow a group of men from Largspresented a "petition for sermon". Those in Largs who were in sympathy with the Associateor Burgher Presbytery had to travel 14 miles to Greenock to attend public worship andreceive the sacraments. The Presbytery minute of April 13, 1779, contains this entry,"Read and received a petition from some people at Largs for supply of sermon —
eodem die
4 o'clock appointed Rev. Mr Richardson to preach at Largs on Sabbath, 4th April". The MrRichardson named was minister of Cartsdyke Church, Greenock and for some time there-after he seems to have travelled to Largs to conduct services there, the congregationmeeting sometimes in a tent on the Greenhill and sometimes in the Gogo Mill. The following year however, ground was secured in Waterside Street, from Mr ThomasBrisbane, of Brisbane, for the erection of a church. The trustees named in the original titledeed are "James Boyd and James Beith, wrights in Largs; John Wilson, Robert Ewing, JohnEwing and Robert Moodie, farmers there; James Moodie, John Hill, John Lade, John2
 
Malcom, William Hall and Archibald Hill, weavers there; William Beith, William Shearer,lint makers there; Archibald Wilson, shoemaker there".
The church
,
a plain building
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was erected at the cost of 
 
"£167 5s 7d and 4s 2dmore
" !Of the above-mentioned men, three, John Lade, Robert Moodie and John Hill, carried onthe work of the congregation, became the nucleus of the future Session and were thus thetrue "founding fathers".By 1783 the congregation was strong enough to warrant a minister of its own and The Rev.William Watson was called from Bridge of Teith. The Stipend promised was £50 a year, plusa free house. He left six years later and as their second minister the congregation called The Rev. John Leech from Kingsmill, Ireland. His salary was still £50, but in addition hewas allowed a horse to ride ! In 1821 he resigned and went to Glasgow where he lecturedon Biblical Criticism and taught Hebrew. The third minister was Rev. Daniel McLean who was inducted on October 22, 1823. Thecongregation flourished under his care; the manse was rebuilt and then in 1826 the churchitself was entirely rebuilt at the cost of £757 16s 0d, the new building having sittings for690 people.Mr McLean was succeeded by the fourth minister, The Rev. William Steven from Tarbolton,in 1830, the number of members at that date being 280.During the ministry of Mr Steven, however, the congregation grew greatly in size andinfluence. Backed by an able Session, the minister gave himself wholeheartedly to thecare of his people. He was keen on work among young people and started the first SundaySchool in Largs and also a Bible Class. In 1847, as a result of union between Churches of similar views, the congregation became part of the new United Presbyterian Church.After a ministry of 30 years, Mr Steven's health began to fail and he applied for a colleagueand successor. Various candidates having been heard, it was decided to present the call to The Rev. J. B. K. Mclntyre, the son of a noted minister of the secession Church in Ireland, The Rev. Hugh Mclntyre, D.D..3
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