The main building in Fairbairn Street was Dalmarnock Congregational
Church on the south corner of Fairbairn Street at 231 Dalmarnock Road.
It opened in 1902 and was a congregational church until 1980. It is one
of the few original structures left in the area and certainly the only
building left from old Fairbairn Street. It is a Cat.B listed building,
designed by architect John C. MacKellar whose practice worked on a
variety of tenements, commercial, domestic and ecclesiastical
buildings. This church building, which was listed in Dec.1970, is
distinguished by its fine Art Nouveau doorpiece and swept roof.
Prominently positioned on the corner site, it adds significantly to the
streetscape of the area.
The two-storey adjacent Church hall was added in 1912 and has its main
entrance in Fairbairn Street, it is called the George Gladstone
Memorial Hall. It was a well-attended venue for Band of Hope
meetings – abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as beverages –
every Monday evening a queue would form outside the hall, inside were a
body of volunteers dedicated to instilling in the minds of its young
members a set of high moral values to take them through life. First
principle being a total abstinence from strong drink. The meeting began
with the boys and girls reciting in unison, the ‘pledge’.
I promise here by Grace divine to drink no spirits, ale, or wine
nor will I buy or sell or give strong drink to others while I live
For my own good this Pledge I take but also for my neighbours' sake
and this my strong resolve shall be No drink, no drink, no drink for me
There followed an evening of entertainment provided by singers and dancers from various local church groups.
The Band of Hope objective was to teach children the importance and
principles of sobriety and teetotalism founded in Leeds in 1847 it
quickly spread throughout the UK.
The 175th
Glasgow BB Company operated from this church from 1927 then in session
1966-67 the company amalgamated with the local Bethany Hall 241st BB
and became the 154th BB Company. I attended the Boys Brigade in
this church from 1959 to 1967, Mr..John Smart was the BB captain, then
later his son Robert took over the running of the company. In the
1960s there was a thriving churches football league and Dalmarnock
Cong. as it was called locally, had a very strong team in those days.
After 1980 the church was used by the Pentecostal Church and currently, 2019, is used by the Gateway Church.
The first established church in Bridgeton was ‘Bridgeton Parish Church’
which was in Dale Street, 1836 to 1986, 150 years. and the first
minister of the church was Rev. Patrick Fairbairn. It is most likely
when Harvie Street was renamed to Fairbairn Street it was named after
the minister.
See Band of Hope memories
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