Basic Site Details

Name: Trinity Church
Town, district or village: Irvine
City or county: Ayrshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: New Free Church at Irvine near Glasgow.— The design of Mr F T Pilkington, architect, of Edinburgh, having been selected through competition for the above church, the work will be commenced immediately. Approaching Irvine by the Railway from Glasgow, the tower and spire which rises to the height of 120 ft will be seen to great advantage. The tower consists of a lower stage, 76 feet high, in front of which is the main entrance, consisting of an archway, richly carved and foliated on the under side. The porch gable is filled by geometrical figures, in stones of different colours. There is a rich cornice at the top of the lower
stage of the tower. The upper stage of the tower is 44 feet high, and is octagonal, having four sides occupied by two light windows, surmounted by very acutely pointed gables, filled with various coloured stones. The other sides of the octagon are occupied by pinnacles. Both the gables and the pinnacles rise above the spire tables, so as to soften the junction of the tower and spire.

Halfway up the spire there are four gables, with ornamental openings. The foot of the west gable is an arcade, consisting of one large centre arch, with two smaller arches on either side supported by clustered columns. By means of this arcade, access is obtained to the higher elevation of the church. Over the two sides of the arches are two two-light traceried windows, springing from a richly carved cornice; above this is a rose window, 20 feet. in diameter, canopied over by a foliated arch above the arch; the gable is filled up with rays of coloured stones - the green, white, and red stone of the district; each ray is disposed in geometrical patterns.

This gable to the top of the finial measures 99 ft. high. On the south-west corner, grouping along with the tower and the west gable, is the arcade, continued along two sides of the church. Above the arcade, which at this corner is circular, the session-house is placed, surmounted by a slated spire; on either side of the body of the church is an octagonal apse, 68 ft. high, the north and south facets of which are occupied by a large trefoil arch, containing a two-light window and a vesica. The sides of the church are occupied by three-light pointed windows with double columns. On the north side, which is also seen from the railway and the bridge, there is a vestry, surmounted by a slated spire in two stages, rising to the height of 61 feet. At the east end of the church is to be a large schoolroom, in keeping with the general design of the church, and capable of accommodating about 300 children. The church is to be seated on the ground floor for 600 persons, and the gallery at the west end of the church is to accommodate 150, making a total of 750. The session house is so arranged that when there is a crowd, it can be thrown into the church. The roof is to be an open timber one, and the height from the floor to the ridge is 51 feet. The cost of the building is estimated at £4,000, and the mason work has been contracted for by Mr. Wilson, and the carpentering by Mr. Wright. The church is expected to be completed early next year. [Building News 27 June 1862 p454]

Builder Archibald Wilson and slater John Kier.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Community Centre  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1BridgegateYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 218611863  
Item 2 of 22011 Restoration 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 6Frederick Thomas Pilkington A18611863 
Item 2 of 6T Pilkington & Son A18611863 
Item 3 of 6Thomas Pilkington A18611863 
Item 4 of 6Daniel Cottier  After 1861 Stained glass
Item 5 of 6ARPL Architects Ltd D2011 Conversion and conservation work begun
Item 6 of 6Patrick James Lorimer D2011 Conversion and conservation work begun

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Robertson, W B - poet-preacher 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Brief guide to Trinity Church     
Item 2 of 7Brown, James Biography of W B Robertson   
Item 3 of 7Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp380
Item 4 of 7Donnelly, Max1999Daniel Cottier, Pioneer of Aestheticism The Decorative Arts Society Journal, 23, pp 33-51p34
Item 5 of 7Guthrie, Arthur Biography of W B Robertson   
Item 6 of 7RSA1862   768
Item 7 of 7RSA1869   901

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building News27 June 1862  p454

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 1Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register35410