Larbert West Parish Church A Centenary History – Brief update by C Sergeant 2025
Update to History – page 84
1998 The Church celebrated 100 years since its founding. To mark, this four magnificent wall hanging, designed by Karen Walls and sewn by the Ladies Craft Group, were unveiled. There was also a display of photographs and memorabilia in the church and church hall and a ceilidh was held in the Dobbie Hall.
1999 Rev Gavin Boswell was inducted to Larbert West.
2003 A concert with music and sketches was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Church Organ which had been gifted to the church in 1903.
Rev Gavin Boswell and Beatrice Grant took part in cycle Malawi in 2005 & 2009, Beatrice went again in 2011.
2012 Larbert West entered into a twinning arrangement with Zolozolo Church, Mzuzu, Northern Malawi.
We explored the possibility of translation ie, moving the church to a new site in the Kinnaird estate, the second large housing estate built in the north of Larbert. After enquiries we found that there was no suitable land available, so this idea was dropped.
2013 After the demission of Rev Gavin Boswell we were vacant for 6 years. Rev Campbell Campbell-Jack served as Locum for many years and was instrumental in keeping the congregation together.
2015 We introduced audio visual equipment into the Sanctuary and halls.
During this time there was a proposed Union with Larbert Old Church. Both churches voted in favour but disagreement over the choice of which building to use led to both churches agreeing to a process of Arbitration.
2016 May The Arbitration decision went in favour of the building at Larbert West being the place of worship. Larbert Old asked for a further six months but after months of facilitation meetings, with the Very Reverends John Chalmers and Albert Bogle, Presbytery agreed in March 2017 to set aside the Union and the two churches carried on individually.
2017 Larbert West was allowed to call a Minister for 5 years.
2017 In June Larbert West hosted the “Kirkin’ o’ the Council” when the Provost and other dignitaries from Falkirk Council joined us for morning worship.
We revised the Team Structure with committees made up from Elders, Congregational Board members and members of the congregation.
2018 April The manse on Carronvale Road was sold and a new manse at 29, Drysdale Avenue in the new Kinnaird Village was purchased.
Also, significant changes were made to the outside of the church building as a ramp was built to facilitate access, the car parking area extended and the whole area mono blocked. Further railings were also added at the front of the Church.
2018 A Fun Day was held to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the church. We also tried other new ventures with a Country and Western Concert and “Brew and Blether” coffee mornings.
2019 October Our new minister, Rev Julie Rennick, was ordained but her ministry was greatly impacted, after just a few months,March 2020, by the Covid Pandemic.
2020 March Larbert West, like all churches, was closed from March to September due to Covid. We ventured into the world of online services and started WAH (Worship at Home) sheets. September saw Churches open again but with restricted seating, well spaced and numbered. Seats had to be pre-booked in advance. The pandemic sadly had a negative impact on congregational attendance when things returned to normal.
2021 Miss Mhairi Gilchrist started her probationary year at Larbert West.
2022 Falkirk Presbytery became part of the new Forth Valley and Clydesdale Presbytery. Rev Julie Rennick left Larbert West to become the new Presbytery Clerk.
Probationer, Miss Mhairi Gilchrist stayed as our Probationer Minister.
In April the requirement to wear face masks in Church was removed.
We started to hold Joint Kirk Session and Congregational Board meetings.
2023 Jan Miss Mhairi Gilchrist was ordained.
The Presbytery Mission Plan led to various discussions and proposals between Churches in the Larbert area as we had been asked to devise a plan for the future. After much debate we proposed that Larbert West should be in a Union with Airth Parish Church, Larbert East Parish Church and Stenhouse & Carron Parish Church. The new Church, to be called Larbert Tryst Church will use the existing Larbert East building as the place of worship. Larbert West manse will be retained. The other churches and manses will be sold.
2025 After favourable votes by the Trustees and then the Congregations, the Union agreed, to take place on May 1st 2025.
2025 April 27th Final Sunday Worship Service at Larbert West followed by a congregational lunch, which former minsters were invited to attend.
Update to Page 88
Biographical Notes on Ministers
1991 – 1999 Rev Robert S. T. Allan
Gained an LLB from Strathclyde University in 1984 and a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1985; became a solicitor in 1987; gained a BD from Glasgow University in 1990, became assistant at Paisley Sherwood in 1990; ordained and inducted to Larbert West in 1991; worked in Church of Scotland in the Ministry Department 1999; inducted to Falkirk Old and St Modans (now Falkirk Trinity) in 2003.
1999 – 2013 Rev Gavin Boswell
Gained a BTheol in 1993 at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa after a period of National Service in the South African Navy; served as a minister in South Africa and Zimbabwe before coming to Scotland in 1999; inducted to Larbert West 1999; inducted to Cowdenbeath Trinity 2013; inducted to Largo Church 2018; moved to Dunfermline to be Locum Minister 2023.
2019 – 2021 Rev Julie M. Rennick
Gained BTh from Aberdeen University 2005; ordained and inducted to charge of Elgin High Church 2005; inducted to Earlston 2011; inducted to Larbert West 2019; became Clerk to Presbytery of Forth Valley and Clydesdale 2022; retired 2024.
2022 – 2025 Rev Mhairi Gilchrist
Studied Mental Health Nursing before going to Glasgow University where she gained a Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 2021. Started as Probationer Minister in 2021 and stayed with Larbert West after Rev Julie Rennick left in May 2022. Ordained in 2023 and became our Assistant Minister.
Update to Page 89
Session Clerks
- 2004: Marianne McCafferty
- 2018: Carol Sergeant
Update to Page 90
Congregational Treasurers
- 2002: Gillian Archibald
- 2015: Jennifer Lister
Sunday School Superintendents
- 2002: Anne Clark
- 2011
- 2015: David Grant
- 2018
Larbert West Parish Church – A Centenary History – 1997
Click on the image below to download a copy of Douglas McKinnon’s 1997 History.
Permission has been graciously granted by the family of the late Douglas McKinnon to make this book available on the website of Tryst Church. 16th April 2025
