Historic Clydebank sandstone church falling into ruin

Congregations vacated St Columba’s Episcopal Church on Glasgow Road in 1996 — and since, it has been slowly crumbling away.

But after a photo of the church was posted on social media there have been calls for action to be taken to stop the rot at the town church.

Clydebank photographer Owen McGuigan, who ignited a debate about the church after uploading the snap to Facebook, said: “I just don’t like seeing old buildings, especially churches, which, back in the day were substantially built to last a long time, being left to fall down with neglect.

“In the last 40 years in Clydebank we have lost several churches, all knocked down before their time, some to make way for the Clyde Shopping Centre.” The unlisted building was constructed between 1895-1896 and designed by an architect named only as M McColl.

The church is deemed at risk by the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, which is run in partnership by Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments for Scotland.

The report tells how the roof on one side of the sandstone construction is near to collapsing.

An external inspection in 2013 found the church has been subjected to extensive vandalism and with “all elements now in poor condition”.

The church forms a precious piece of old architecture on busy Glasgow Road and many want it to remain.

Mr McGuigan added: “I would rather see them being taken over and even used for other purposes, an example being the Casa Italia on Kilbowie Road.

“It is a shame it is in such a state, well past the point of no return in my opinion, but in the end it is down to finances and what it could be used for in the future.” There are a lot of fond memories of the church in the people of Clydebank, including Lorraine Hamilton, who posted on the 'Call Yersel A Bankie’ Facebook page about her mother’s life-long membership of it.

Lorraine said: “I played the organ for a spell until I had to give it up due to shiftwork. It’s heartbreaking seeing it in this state, my mum’s funeral was the last 'big’ event in 1996, first and last time in many years it was full to the gunnels... It was closed a few months later.

“Before my mum died — she knew she didn’t have long — she was terrified in case St Columba’s would close, as you know she was a faithful member all her life — confirmed there in the late 1949’s and married there in 1951 — she was scared that her funeral would be held there it was so close to closure.

“She used to say 'I don’t want to go anywhere else!’ I was so relieved when I was told it could be held in St Columba’s, it played such a huge part in her life.” We tabled the discussion online and some have suggested renovating it to become a museum, a music school or even flats.

Kenny Learmonth, from Drumchapel, said: “Renovate it, to how it used to be so it has the authentic old look and smells, and use it as a museum with war memorials etc as a tribute to the town as it played a huge part in life back then.” Sean McFall added: “There’s a beautiful church in Crosshill that’s been converted into apartments. That would be the best use for St Columba’s. An injection of better off people would be good for the area.” What do you think should be done with the church? Do you have any fond memories you would like to share? Contact reporter Alan Ferguson on aferguson@cfpress.co.uk or 0141 435 8868.