Free Presbyterian Church

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Free Presbyterian Church
Brown Street

The Free Presbyterian Gaelic Church (or the Free Church of Scotland) is of local significance for its simple Gothic Revival architecture and for its historical associations. The Presbyterian congregation in Hamilton had formed in 1854 including some of the most important early pioneers. It was granted land opposite the Church of England at the corner of Gray and McIntyre Streets where a church was started in 1857. ([i]) A staunchly Calvinist breakaway group formed a new congregation in 1859. ([ii]) Its Free Presbyterian Church was built in Brown Street some time after 1860 on land originally sold to or reserved for the congregation in the same year. ([iii]) This congregation, compared with that of St Andrew's, always remained small and at times barely managed to stay in existence. ([iv])

The austere architecture of the building reflects the principles of the congregation. It is very simple and is without any decoration. The "west window" is remarkably abstract. There is no garden. The building remains significantly intact, although the brickwork has been painted, and is in good condition. It is a critical part of the streetscape and is the only religious building in the commercial area around Gray Street but relates to the nearby Uniting Church in Lonsdale Street.