Holy Roof!!

Those of you that follow my journal will know that God and I had a parting of the way an long time ago, strange maybe for someone that did at one time flirted with a future as a man of the cloth. I didn't lose my faith so much as departed the path and explored my spiritual side, the reason for my deviation was primarily that the mortals that were doing God's bidding seemed more interested in securing my money that saving my soul. I apologise if this offends anyone, it is, after all only my personal opinion, maybe it was an isolated enclave of the diocese where this was to the fore who knows!!!

What I have never lost is my love for religious Architecture, we are blessed (Pun Wholly Intended) in Scotland to have some stunning churches, the materials ebb and flow with the geography of the country, with the modern brick-built buildings to the sandstone and granite gothic edifices, the beauty of the stained glass, the strength of the buttresses and columns, the security of the huge oak doors, arched studded with heavy wrought iron fittings. With falling church roles across all denominations, congregations merging, sadly some of these buildings are now falling into disuse. Many were sold, but the purchasers were wholly unaware of the needs of these beautiful building and the expense and as such a great many have been abandoned to the elements and have slipped into rack and ruin.

Sadly this is the case with the (Former) Clune Park Church of Scotland to be found in Robert Street in Port Glasgow. I have tried shooting this building before but never seemed to get a shot that did it justice, indeed I am not convinced that I have today but maybe time is not of the essence as the church is due to be auctioned by the liquidators acting in the interests of the previous owners. It is fair to say the church is situated in one of the most depressed areas in Scotland and from that perspective would not be ripe for residential use but that aside it is a tragedy that this once beautiful house of worship is now a faded image of the building it was. The red rubble construction is dull and damaged, the church designed as part of the modern movement, mimicking a late gothic style. The small tower stands to one side overshadowed by the stunning flourishing Art Nouveau window all designed by Boston Menzies & Morton Architects and consecrated in 1905.

For 92 years the word of God was heard here before in 1997 the pulpit was vacated, the pews left empty and the doors locked for a last time as the congregation merged with the neighbouring congregation of St Andrews. I fear that the building will be beyond resurrection, mother nature slowly reclaiming the building and the elements tearing at its heart and may be lost forever but at least in the Blip world it will be able to be enjoyed for the beautiful building it once was