A Georgian parish church secured through community ownership now supports gatherings, events and local organisations as Bellfield.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1808–10; tower 1839; community hub since 2018
- Architect / designer
- William Sibbald; J MacIntyre Henry; later work by Alan Reiach and Partners
- Type
- Classical former parish church
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB26969)
- OS grid reference
- NT 30881 73804
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The classical three-bay front carries a pediment and clock tower above a galleried interior. Later jambs, rich woodwork, stained glass, boundary walls and surviving graveyard features record two centuries of change.
Its story
William Sibbald designed the chapel in 1808–10, and it gained parish status in 1834. The tower followed in 1839 and later additions enlarged the church; community purchase in 2017 enabled reopening as Bellfield in 2018.
Why it is included
The Category B building offers a nationally important example of community acquisition giving a major former church a viable public future.
What to notice
- Pedimented classical front and clock tower.
- Surviving galleries and church fittings.
- Layered additions around the original rectangular plan.
Reading the surroundings
Bellfield opens for programmed community activities, hires and events. Check current times, respect booked rooms and remember that graveyard monuments and historic fittings require care.
Timeline
- 1809 The date stone marked construction of William Sibbald’s chapel.
- 1839 A clock tower and additional accommodation enlarged the building.
- 2017 A community body completed the purchase of the former church.
- 2018 Bellfield opened as a community-owned neighbourhood hub.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The HES statutory name records former parish use; Bellfield is the current public identity and programme.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Bellfield, LB26969 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Bellfield: about — Community ownership, former church identity and current venue role.
- OSCR: Action Porty — Current charitable status and community purposes of the owning organisation.
Location
OS grid reference NT 30881 73804 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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