A red-harled Gothic church and tower commemorate a long-serving minister while continuing as Whiting Bay’s Church of Scotland worship centre.
Quick facts
- Date
- Early twentieth century
- Architect / designer
- Designer not recorded
- Type
- T-plan Gothic church with memorial tower
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB6792)
- OS grid reference
- NS 04735 27289
Architecture and continuing use
The T-plan church is built of red-harled brick with red sandstone dressings. Buttressed aisles, transepts and stepped lancets lead the eye to a three-stage tower, whose louvred belfry, parapet and small slate spirelet form a village landmark. Leaded glazing and a gallery window enrich the otherwise simple Gothic treatment.
Its story
The church was erected in the early twentieth century. Its tower plaque commemorates the Reverend Angus Stewart, minister at Whiting Bay from 1876 until 1903. The building was listed in 1995 and now serves as St Donan’s within the island-wide parish created in 2023, with worship and community activities documented by the congregation.
Why it is included
It joins architecture, personal commemoration and living community use, anchoring the northern part of the long village.
What to notice
- The memorial plaque set into the tower’s first stage.
- Stepped lancet groups across the transepts.
- The squat belfry and small slate spirelet.
Reading the surroundings
Attend only at advertised services or events and respect worshippers. Do not assume access to the tower, vestry or other non-public spaces.
Timeline
- 1876–1903 Angus Stewart served as minister to the Whiting Bay congregation.
- Early 20th century The new T-plan church and memorial tower were completed.
- 1995 The building received Category B listing.
- 2023 The church became a worship centre of the Isle of Arran Parish.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation does not name an architect or provide an exact completion year. Worship and hall timetables can change.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Stewart Memorial Church, Whiting Bay, LB6792 — Current designation status, statutory identity, official mapped point, date, fabric and significance.
- Isle of Arran Parish: Whiting Bay — Current congregation evidence for worship and community activity at the Whiting Bay centre.
- Trove: Stewart Memorial Church — National collection entry for the designation identity, mapped location, related records and available archive material.
- North Ayrshire Council: LDP3 Evidence Report — Current council planning evidence for the island’s communities, services and settlement context.
Location
OS grid reference NS 04735 27289 · Location confidence: High for the current HES designation point; public text separately qualifies component extent, terrain and access. · 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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