Larbert East Parish Church

The early days

We now have in this area the Larbert Men’s Christian Association but in 1840 there was formed a group with a very similar title, “ The Larbert Working Men’s Association” which existed for promoting the interests of The Church of Scotland. However, in 1843, came what was known as The Disruption in the Church of Scotland when a large number of congregations and their ministers broke away and The Free Church of Scotland came into being. It was decided that the association would form the nucleus of a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland and so the Larbert Free Church was born. It continued under this name until 1900 when the congregation decided to join the newly formed United Free Church of Scotland under the name of Larbert United Free Church. In 1929 there was a resolution of differences and the majority of Free Churches rejoined the Church of Scotland. The name now became Larbert East Parish Church of Scotland and so it remained until 2025.

Ministry

The first small Church was built and opened in 1844 on the present site and the first minister was Rev. John Bonar. He left in 1846 and there was no permanent minister for two years until Rev. Finlay McPherson was appointed in 1848. He retired in 1891 after 43 years service and was succeeded by his assistant Rev. Peter Balfour who sadly died of typhoid in 1895 “After a brief but fruitful ministry.” Plaques to these two gentlemen can be found in the church. He was followed by Rev. Dr. A. N. Bogle who served until 1908 and later became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. During his ministry the present building was erected and opened in March 1903. Following the departure of Dr. Bogle, Rev. A. Easton Spence served from 1903 to 1911. From 1911 to 1925 the minister was Rev. W. Chisholm Mitchell. In 1918 the Church Hall burned down and the present Hall was built in 1924. Rev J. Wilson Fulton served from 1925 until he retired in 1946 due to ill health having served faithfully during World War 2. He was succeeded by Rev. Peter McPhail who served until 1958 and will be remembered by many of the older members of the congregation. He left to be followed by Rev James Loudon Melrose who left in 1963 to join the teaching profession. In 1964 Rev. Eric Murray was inducted and served until his retirement in 1995 to be succeeded by Rev. Melville D. Crosthwaite who was inducted in November of that year. He gave devoted service until his retiral in September 2021. This brings the story up to 2025, apart from our two Locum Ministers Rev. Philip Hacking and Rev. Anne White.

Manses

During the tenure of Rev. Fulton the original Church Manse “Norwood” was deemed to be no longer fit for purpose and a new Manse was built in Carronvale Road and completed in 1939. During the tenure of Rev. Eric Murray a new building was purchases in Cortachy Avenue, Carron and served as the Church Manes until the retiral of Rev. Crosthwaite in September 2021. This house has now been sold.

Since 1995

After the induction of Melville Crosthwaite in 1995, there were some changes to Sunday services, but nothing fundamental. Anyone who walked into a service after the passage of years would recognise it as very similar in content. The Order of Service is much as it was but with some subtle changes. Members of the Congregation are much more involved with a member reading the lesson each week and another leading the Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession. They might notice a new hymn book - Larbert East Praise. Although Margaret Appelbe retired after many years of faithful service, the choir continued to thrive under the leadership of Martin Fairbairn. There was a choir introit each Sunday and Martin closed each Sunday with an organ postlude.

More significant changes have taken place in outreach to the Community. Larbert Churches Youth Trust was founded with much of the initial thrust being driven by Melville Crosthwaite. All the other Churches have been involved. Initially Mike Glass and Gregor McKay were Schools Workers doing valuable work with young people. There has also been a Holiday Club for a week each summer with great help from members of the congregation. Mike moved on but Gregor contuned the good work. In addition, Marianne Harvey was appointed as Parish Outreach Worker and does valuable work with vulnerable families as well as helping with our own Young Church and leading All Age Talks.

There has also been established Lunch in the East which provides a safe place for younger pupils from Larbert High to eat a packed lunch or be provided with a snack.

Rev. John Brown, one of our own members, was appointed Pastoral Assistant. He has now retired after doing much appreciated work visiting older members as well as leading services.

Another extension in work in the community has been the establishment of a Midweek Service led by a variety of speakers from other Churches and well attended by people from across the area.

Such was the esteem that the Church and especially the minister were held in that a series of students did part of their training here before completing their studies for the ministry. Indeed three of our own members, Rhona McDonald, Darren Jalland and Simon Hessett have gone on to be ordained into the Church of Scotland

The Women’s Group has continued to thrive and a new Memories Group has been set up. There is a monthly afternoon meeting with speakers on items of local history and general interest and some musical offerings. With tea and coffee and home baking provided it has proved very popular with older people from the wider community

Changes to the church building

In 1997, an act of mindless vandalism caused great damage to the Church stained glass windows. This set off a train of events which could not have been anticipated. The ramifications of this act were enormous. To repair the windows in a listed building the Church had to conform to conditions set out by the Church of Scotland and, vitally, Historic Scotland before grants could be sought and work started. To complicate matters, on survey, it was discovered that extensive work needed to done to the roof before work could be carried out on the windows.

It was a colossal task and vastly expensive but with grants and a huge effort in fundraising , much of it done by ladies of the congregation, the work was finally completed. It had been a magnificent effort by all concerned . Our Property Convener, John Main always assured us that having faith we would prevail and we did. It was not for nothing the Melville called him Solomon Main.

New toilets in the Hall have been provided with access for the disabled and a room opened up as an upper hall. We don’t forget that the Organ Console has been digitalised and the great Church Bell has been made to ring automatically which was a great boon to our faithful Church Officer, John Carmichael and those who have followed him.

Since then, the Sound System in the church has been greatly improved driven by the expertise of Dave Tooth and his team. Screens have been erected to allow hymns and notices to be displayed. Most vital of all a system has been put in place to enable services to be filmed and broadcast live on line to members and viewers on line all over the world. This vital service kept the Church together when Covid struck and services from an empty Church could be relayed to members and anyone all over the world. This vital service kept the Church together during the pandemic. It was especially difficult for Melville in the empty church but he carried on and the Church came through this difficult time.

What changes will we see in Tryst Church? Who can tell?