Biggar Union of Churches
The new union between Biggar Kirk, Black Mount Parish Church and Libberton & Quothquan Parish Church will be inaugurated by presbytery in Biggar Kirk on Wednesday 14th of January at 6:45pm. This is the beginning of a new exciting journey for all 3 churches.
Biggar Kirk
You can find more information about Biggar Kirk at:-
Black Mount Church
The church is located in Dolphinton to the east of Biggar. Originally a parsonage in the 13th century, the church appears to have always occupied the same site, undergoing a complete rebuild in 1789, with late 19th-century additions. A typical T-plan church, built so the preacher has the light behind him and the congregation can hear him. The bell dates from c.1800.
Libberton & Quothquan Kirk
Libberton and Quothquan Church, or as known locally, ‘Libberton Church’, is situated in the hamlet of Libberton on the B7016 road 6 miles from Biggar. It is surrounded by its graveyard which is owned and maintained by South Lanarkshire Council. The B listed building was erected in 1812 and the interior and roof were extensively renovated in 1902.
The present parish of Libberton and Quothquan is a union of the two separate and independent parishes of Libberton and Quothquan which took place in 1669.
Quothquan was a small, ancient, horse-shoe shaped parish bounded in the north by the Standing Burn with the river Clyde to the west and Biggar parish to the east. Libberton Parish originally extended into the area of what is now the Parish of Carnwath. In 1185 the church of Carnwath was given to the Bishop of Glasgow by William de Somerville. The parish was then bounded by the Medwin Water in the north, the River Clyde to the west, the parish of Walston to the east and the Standing Burn to the south.
The present church building holds around 100 on the ground floor and 50 in the gallery. All seating is traditional pews. The organ is electric and was purchased in 2006. Heating is by electrical tubular heaters controlled by thermostat.
The pulpit is raised at the north end of the church with a raised and carpeted area surrounding it. This part also houses the organ, the communion table, font and lectern. There is a wireless speaker system installed.
There is a small vestry and toilet and the building is well maintained and in good repair. Only minor items were raised in the last quinquennial report and these have been addressed.
There is no church hall and all functions out-with the church are held in the village hall at Quothquan thereby maintaining a direct link between the two communities.
There are some 225 houses in the parish (20 families on the congregational roll live outside the parish). There is one primary school in the parish situated between Quothquan and Libberton. A new school building was constructed in 2015 and the school role is around 35. Children move from there to Biggar High School. In addition to the normal Sunday services, outdoor services have been held at the old Quothquan Church. A Harvest Supper, to which members of our linked partners are invited, is held each year in Quothquan Hall - the village hall, run by local residents. A Christmas lunch is also held here with all senior citizens in the parish receiving an invitation. A coffee morning is held fortnightly in a member’s house.
Although our church is small it has a very committed and friendly congregation who actively participate in all our projects – flower show, outdoor carol singing, candle light services and much else.