Church Micro 14791...Brightons
Brightons Parish Church
Brightons Parish Church was established in 1843 as Polmont Free Church, meeting initially in Blairlodge School.
The church building was erected in 1846-47 and was designed by Brown & Carrick, architects in Glasgow. The local quarry owner, Alexander Lawrie, gifted the stone to build the church.
The church is a Gothic-style church with 3-bay façade with lancet windows and small steeple. It is built to a T-Plan with a single storey vestry to the rear. The doorway has a Tudor arch with hood-moulded triple lancet window above. The gable is surmounted by an angle buttressed stone spired bellcote with louvred openings.
The church was opened on 21st July 1847.
In 1849, the manse was designed by the architect, Brown of Uphall and built in the church grounds by Henry Farmer and William Taylor.
In 1857, the bell was donated by John Miller of Millfield. In 1893, side galleries were added to the church and in 1935, the Chancel area was modernised. In 1993, in celebration of the 150th anniversary, two stained glass windows were installed. One depicted the work done among young people and the other, the Church family and local community.
The congregation entered the United Free Church of Polmont in 1900 and went into the Church of Scotland in 1929 when the congregation was re-named Polmont South Parish Church.
The congregation was linked with Shieldhill from 16 February 1958 to 10 September 1961. A second hall was opened in 1974 and in 1977 the congregation was re-named Brightons Parish Church.
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