I was minister of this church in the early 1980's.
It was completed in 1894, an historical accident in which serious money, skilled craftsmen, highest quality materials, a brilliant architect, and a family dynasty coincided in the building of a memorial church.
Thomas Coats Memorial is the magnum opus of Hippolyte Blanc, an architect who has around 40 church buildings to his credit, most of them in Scotland.
The other day visiting the University of the West of Scotland, I stood in the new student reception hub and took this photo through the window.
Inside there are some of the finest examples of ecclesiastical craftsmanship - alabaster figures adorn the pulpit, three panels of the life of Christ are illuminated in the chancel above the organ, the choir stalls are each decorated with carved oak angels, the walls are decorated with rosetta carving and the lead panelled glass is all hand made and crystal clear.
Above the chancel a vaulted ceiling has painted angels and stencilled work, and the 3 manual Hill organ with over 3,000 pipes is still in regular use. The mosaics in the vestibule were laid by Italian craftsmen, the royal doulton fitted toilets are a sight to behold, and the massive chandeliers which when lit display around 300 bulbs illumine the waem stone pillars. There is no stained glass as Blanc wanted the building to be bathed in natural light.
The open baptistry is made of finest Italian marble and is a major feature dominating the front of the church behind the large intricately carved communion table. Blanc insisted that the overall concept was to be viewed in its completeness; so while any one piece had its own integrity and identity as a work of art, it was its context in the overall building that gave it significance.
The church is a prominent landmark for miles around, and the tower rises as a dominent feature of Paisley High Street. If you haven't seen it, and you like history and architecture the building is really a must see. The congregation is now modest, and the building a massive drain on limited resources, but for 120 years they have sustained this landmark church at the centre of the town. If you are around on an open day, go in and enjoy.
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