 | St Marnock's Parish Church, Kilmarnock |  |
| "Serving God's People" |
| St Marnock's Parish Church, Kilmarnock | |
| "Serving God's People" |
St Marnock's is one of the oldest and best attended churches in the Irvine and Kilmarnock Presbytery of the Church of Scotland. We are a "family" church with a roll of 750+ members across some 550 homes. Our minister is supported by 65 elders in caring for our congregation.
Our "family" is vibrant; we have over 100 young people in our Sunday School and Look-in Group. Our Youth Organisations are flourishing and regular "all-age" worship means that our "family" is growing together.
A warm welcome awaits you at any of our Services or other events and activities.
The following section provides a brief overview of our history, including a short commentary on our Carillon of 30 bells. Our church participates in the Ayrshire "doors open" day which is normally held on the first Sunday in September.
In 1831 when the population of Kilmarnock stood at 18,093, it was agreed that further places of worship were required and the foundation stone for St Marnock's was laid on 21st August 1834. The building opened as a Chapel of Ease in late 1836. The building was closed from 1834 to 1857 although it was used during that period for various functions.
The Rev Charles Stewart (13th January 1859 to August 1862) was the first minister to be inducted. The roll stood at 70 but 143 members and adherents signed the call. Some 1,450 people attended a Soiree to welcome Mr Stewart.
St Marnock's received a full constitution on 31st May 1856 and was allocated the following area as its parish:
From a line at the centre of Riccarton bridge on the west side of Low Glencairn Street and running up the middle of Low and High Glencairn Street; Titchfield Street and King Street to St Marnock's Street; along the middle of St Marnock's Street to Dundonald Road; along the middle of Dundonald Road to Point House Toll and continuing along said road to a point where it crosses the boundary that separates the parish of Kilmaurs; in a southerly direction along the boundary of the River Irvine and up the River to Riccarton Bridge.
These are the same parish boundaries which we have today.
Rev John Thomson (26th March 1863 to January 1883). 
The first Kirk Session meeting was held on 4th September 1863. A school was set up by the Kirk Session for the education needs of the parish. The deep toned bell in the clocktower was gifted by Mr Gillespie of London and, in 1864, complemented by the gift of a clock made by Messrs J & J Smith of Windyedge, Kilmaurs. Praise was led by a presenter standing in a pulpit in front of the minister and exact replica of his pulpit. John Gilmour of Elmbank presented the congregation with an organ and later, an organ gas engine. The organ was dedicated on 11th August 1872. The first banns of marriage were read in 1875 and communion cards replaced communion tokens in 1881.
Rev James W Armstrong (October 1883 to 1911). 
In 1886 the church was completely reseated downstairs, refloored and re-windowed with "modern" heating installed. The first manse was purchased in Martinmas 1889; the "Portland Villa" in Portland Road. In 1908 the organ was overhauled and modernised with tubular pneumatic action applied throughout. The console was reconstructed in an oak case and an eight foot brass flute added to the pedal organ. A choir organ of 5 stops was also added and an electric motor was fitted (there was no electric light in the church till 1912). The pupit was repositioned by being placed further back. The baptismal font was presented to the church in 1892.
Rev William Smith (January 1912 to August 1925). The roll of membership now stood at 1,100. Ground was purchased in April 1914 to build a church hall and plans were prepred for a three-storey building.On the 26th February 1922, Very Rev Dr John White of the Barony, Glasgow, unveiled the congrgation's memorial to its dead of the first world war. In 1925, further plans were approved for the building of a two storey hall (instead of three storeys).
Rev R Grant Sutherland (22nd December 1925 to October 1929). Due to the cost, the hall plans were modified to one hall, a Guild room, Session room, Vestry and kitchen. The Rev Willam Smith, now at Bo'ness, opened the hall on 28th March 1928. The membership stood at 1,500 members by 1929.
1936 onwards...At the time of the
Centenary which was celebrated on Sunday 4th October 1936, various renovations were carried out including the cleaning of the outside stonework. New carpets were laid throughout the church; the Communion Table was renovated and a table covering and pulpit antepentium received. The painted organ screen was gifted by Mrs Harvey at this time as were two communion chairs in memory of Mr Hugh Hodge and, from Rev and Mrs WJ Smith, a prayer desk to match. Apart from the new kitchen and the Carillon, most of the work since 1936 has been to maintain and preserve the structure, particularly our extensive building programme undertaken in 1997.
Our Carillon of 30 bells was installed in the tower in memory of Peter Wills and daughters, Maggie and Mary. 
The date of installation was 1955 and a plate in the vestibule records this gift. Our carillon is one of few in Scotland and is ranked 12th in the United Kingdom. Visitors have come from all parts of the UK and further to view and play the bells, which featured on a cassette tape of UK carillons some years ago (later released on CD in 1999). The bells reside just under the roof of the tower and are played on a keyboard from the floor below. The keyboard resembles a piano keyboard but is played by using the inside of the hand to depress the "key". Considerable effort is required to activate the bells. A practice keyboard is installed two floors below and can be played without alerting the public.