Christ Church, Falkirk

Our Building

Christ Church Falkirk was the daughter church of St. Andrews, Dunmore. This church, and its tower, (known as Elphinstone Tower) which was a mausoleum has fallen to ruin but is on the walking route from ‘The Pineapple’ to Dunmore House and best viewed in the winter when there is less vegetation.

Rev. C.H. Terrot, Bishop of Edinburgh published a letter in April 1862 saying that the lack of an Episcopal church in Falkirk was “a reproach, not only to the Scottish Episcopal Church, but to all who believe in the episcopal form of church government”.

William Forbes, the main local landowner in the area, gave the land for the church to be built on and £200 towards the cost. £1,000 had to be raised.

The church was designed by Robert Rowand Anderson, who later became one of the most admired architects in this country, his other work includes Glasgow Central Station, work on Balmoral Castle (for which he was knighted) and the restoration of Dunblane Cathedral.  

The church is built in the ‘Norman style’ with external buttressing. The foundation stone was laid on Saturday 9^th May 1863 in a ceremony conducted by the Very Reverent Ramsey, Dean of Edinburgh a few of his words from that day are worth noting:

“When we see a building in the ecclesiastical style of architecture we know that it is a church, and we have solemn ideas in such a building and feel that it would be unbecoming to hear merriment or light frivolity in such a place.”

“Gothic architecture is not religion. Painted windows, or the sound of music and choirs are not religion, but they can lead to religion; and as measures of religion they will be beneficial for us. Woe be to us if we substitute them for reality. I trust that this building will lead to decency, propriety and humanity in the worship of Almighty God.”

Clearly the Dean was a man who took his religious practice very solemnly. He would probably not be pleased that this hope has not continued to be achieved.

On the 13^th April 1864, The Right Hon. Earl of Dunmore read a requisition for consecration. The ceremony was conducted by Right Rev. F.B. Morrell, Bishop Coadjuter of Edinburgh. 

The Lady Chapel was added in 1901 and opened in 1902 at the same time that the oak paneling and the tiles that go up to just below the roofing beams in the main church.

Early in 1934 in the room under the church known as the ‘Song School’, which is now known as the St. Andrew’s Chapel, Peter Samwell, the son of Rev Samwell, the Rector, showed the Church Scout group of which he was one of the leaders, a most magical invention. Television. Eighty years later one of the young boys, John Ferrier, still remembered that night. He was struck by the whiteness of the Song School walls because white didn’t stay white long in a working home. He also recalled the fuzzy figures moving on a tiny screen. Looking back, John said he never guessed how television would change in his lifetime. He had been the first to demonstrate thi.s marvel in the town hall in Denny in February 1934.

In 1985 the hall was condemned – 20 years after its expected life of 30 years - and work, under the supervision of Lex Slessor was undertaken to convert two ground floor rooms of the rectory into the hall. The change was funded by the sale of some of the land that the hall was built on.



In 2014 Christ Church celebrated her 150^th Anniversary these culminated in a service of thanksgiving and the blessing of the St. Andrew’s Chapel, which was the old Song School.  

For the last ten years there has been a huge amount of work done to raise money to repair the church and the rectory and make sure it could continue until 2024 and beyond. Some of those who worked so hard died before they saw the fruits of their work and prayers, but they are not forgotten, by their loved ones or by the community here. A small, but critical team of people made representations to various trusts for grants and there was a busy program of events. Thankfully the work on the church at least was largely complete before the COVID restrictions from March 2020.  

There are many more plans to improve access and maintain the buildings in good order, but we also look to build our community of people; old and young those able to attend regularly and those who keep in touch best with home visits. Let us pray that this growth will continue and the worship and reverence together with joy and laughter echoes forward to the years ahead.