Looking Back: This Bell Unites Old and New

From 1953

This Bell Unites Old and New

FROM AN ANCIENT KIRK IN STRATHGRYFFE TO THE NEW KIRK WHERE THE MODERATOR-DESIGNATE IS A MEMBER

The Parish Church of Killermont, near New Kilpatrick, has recently become linked to the ancient Parish of Inchinnan in Renfrewshire by the significant symbol of a bell, whose history is redolent of many hallowed memories.

Inchinnan, or ‘The Isle of the Rivers’, stands at the confluence of the White and Black Cart streams, and is associated with the name and labours of St Conval, an Irish prince who became a disciple of St Kentigern. Near the stones traditionally known as St Colvin’s stones, is the scene of the capture by Government forces of the Duke of Argyle, after his abortive rising, and prior to his execution in the late 17th century.

St Colvin established the Christian religion in Strathgryffe between AD 593 and 692, his headquarters being a monastery which he founded at Inchinnan. This original cell was replaced in D 1105 by a stone church called after the saint. Granted by David 1 to the Knight’s Templar in AD 1124 and subsequently transferred by Papal charter to the Knights of St John, this was the only church in Strathgryffe to be exempted from the jurisdiction of Paisley Abbey, established in AD 1163 by Walter, son of the first High Steward of Scotland.

The tower of the old church of St Conval, which was dismantled in AD 1822-28, contained this bell now in service at Killermont. It was originally gifted to Inchinnan Church by the Blytheswood family, and when one of the lairds of Blytheswood gifted a new bell to the new church in AD 1828 he arranged for the disused bell to be conveyed to Blytheswood gardens.

The present All Hallows Church of Inchinnan was built between AD 1899 and 1904 and dedicated in Jane 1904.

Through the kindness of the Blytheswood trustees the ancient bell has been gifted to the congregation of Killermont, founded in1963 under the ministry of the Rev R.W Stewart, BD. After reconditioning, it was erected in the belfry of the hall in which the congregation meantime worship pending the erection of a church, and was dedicated at a special service in June 1952, by the Rev Duncan Blair, DD.

The present minister is the Rev Robin Jack, BD.