Old Kilpatrick Bowling Church on Dumbarton Road will shut it’s doors this year, the Church of Scotland have confirmed.

The category B listed building was erected in 1812 as a replacement to an earlier parish church which became badly decayed. It is believed the minister at the time refused to conduct services due to it’s state.

This building was designed as semi-classical and neo-Gothic in style which was popular n Scotland at the time.

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The graveyard surrounding the church is very ancient, with surviving tombstones dating from the 17th century.

Old Kilpatrick Bowling Church to close this year (Image: NQ)

The decision to close the church comes as part of the Mission Plan for the Presbytery of Clyde which laid out the future of West Dunbartonshire’s churches when published in 2023.

It is understood the mission plan aims to reform the Church of Scotland in order to address mission needs and financial pressures.

Included in the plan, is proposals to close the church, retain the halls and merge the existing congregation with Dalmuir Barclay Church, which is just a mile and a half away.

The mission plan when published announced that there was 186 members, though this has since fallen and that they will now join Dalmuir Barclay that when last recorded had 140 members.

Old Kilpatrick Bowling Church to close this year (Image: NQ)

Dalmuir Barclay Church on Durban Avenue. (Image: Newsquest Staff)

The halls at Old Kilpatrick Bowling Parish will be retained by the Church of Scotland as a ‘mission church’.

The sanctuary is set to go up for sale once the congregation merges later this year.

The report notes that Dalmuir Barclay is “very much a well-equipped space in the right space”, with the building located on a main road and close to bus routes and a railway station.

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A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “The Church is radically reforming in order to properly respond to 21st century mission needs and financial pressures, and part of this work is to ensure we have well equipped spaces in the right places.

“Under the terms of the Mission Plan for the Presbytery of Clyde, the parishes of Old Kilpatrick Bowling and Dalmuir Barclay Church will unite later this year.

“The primary place of worship for the new congregation will be the current Dalmuir Barclay sanctuary in Durban Ave, Dalmuir.

“The sanctuary serving Old Kilpatrick Bowling will be closed when the union takes place and eventually put up for sale, with the proceeds used to support the new congregation’s mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

“However, the church halls at Old Kilpatrick Bowling will be retained to enable the church’s important work in this part of the new parish to continue.”