From the Outside

On a Sunday, but certainly from the outside, an interesting church building, one of Scotland's oldest parish churches still in use. At the rhs there is an associated building, now a church hall, but formerly the village school.


"A fine old Scots plain kirk which hides an attractive interior, by Andrew Bell of Airdrie 1776. It holds a commanding position at the highest point in the village, and incorporates the bell-tower of an earlier church (1698) which housed a cell for minor offenders. The old church was replaced when it suffered so badly from overcrowding that youthful members of the congregation colonised the exposed joists to roost! The apse was added in 1904 by John Arthur. Extensive restoration 1997. Simple watchhouse by the cemetery."
OR Alternatively
(NS 7527 6775) The church of New Monkland stands on a hill and is in itself of no great anitquity. The steeple is said to be part of the original church but this is very doubtful. The walls of the steeple are of the same construction as the whole building, although it is possible that the stones of the earliest edifice were used in its reconstruction. A lintel stone over a window in the west wall of the tower has a definite earlier appearance and is out of keeping with the rest of the building. The Church is still in use. "
Visited by OS (JLD) 11 October 1952