Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church

Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church
Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church
Location within Renfrewshire
55°50′41″N 4°25′57″W / 55.8448°N 4.4324°W / 55.8448; -4.4324
Location High Street
Paisley, Renfrewshire
Country Scotland
Denomination Baptist
Website www.coatsmemorial.org.uk
History
Founded May 1894
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Category A
Architect(s) Hippolyte Blanc
Style Gothic Revival
Clergy
Minister(s) Rev'd Theo Corney
Laity
Director of music Matt Edwards

Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church, colloquially known as the Baptist Cathedral of Europe, stands at the west end of the High Street in Paisley, Scotland. It has been a dominant feature of the Paisley skyline for over 100 years with its striking crown steeple rising to 60 metres (200 ft) above the ground.[1] The church is a category A listed building.[2]

Thomas Coats

Thomas Coats (1809-1883) was a philanthropist and a devoted member of the Baptist Church, who was one of the founders of the world famous J.&P. Coats company. He was committed to the wellbeing of his town, being involved in the restoration of Paisley Abbey, and funding projects such as the construction of the Coats Observatory and Paisley Fountain Gardens. After his death in 1883 his close family funded the construction of a Baptist church in his memory.[3]

History

A competition was held in 1885 for the design of the church. Construction commenced in late 1885 and was completed by May 1894. Hippolyte Jean Blanc was successful in securing his design, the magnificent result of which we see today. Today, the church is threatened with closure as a result of diminishing congregation and the cost of upkeep.[4]

Architecture

The church is built in the Gothic Revival style in red sandstone, cruciform in shape with flying buttresses along the nave and transepts. The central tower rises to an open crown steeple. At the front a set of stairs lead to three doorways, occupied by oak doors. There is seating inside for almost 1,000 people under the vaulted ceiling. Other features include mosaics, stencilled decoration, gargoyles, carved marble and alabaster. Above the chancel is a vaulted ceiling decorated with paintings of angels. On either side of the chancel the organ with some 3,040 pipes can be seen. Built by William Hill & Sons, the organ is one of only a few of its kind in Britain which has not been modified.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Thomas Coats Memorial Church Paisley Scotland". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "High Street, Coats Memorial Church". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church". Renfrewshire Council. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church, Paisley". Scotland's Churches Trust. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "£1000,000 organ fund given a boost". Paisley Daily Express. Mar 17, 2011.
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