Fintry Kirk
Fintry, Strathclyde
Set in a small rural village, surrounded by an ancient graveyard, this much loved Kirk plays a key role within a tight knit community of 700+.
This Grade A listed Gothic Revival is not operating for services as it was damaged by fire in 1984. However, it is an iconic building and stands as a cultural and architectural landmark. Constructed during Lennoxtown’s industrial era, particularly during the Calico Printing boom, the Kirk served as a spiritual and social nucleus for the community. Despite the fire in 1984 that severely damaged the structure, the remaining architecture embodies unique historical and architectural qualities. Now in May 2025, ownership has been transferred over by the KLTR (King's & Lord's Treasurer Remembrancer) to the Friends of Campsie High Kirk.
Historical Background:
The church hosted its first sermon in 1829. Among the ministers who served there was Rev. Norman Macleod, a prolific author and social reformer who extended the local school, began evening classes for adults, set up a savings bank, a clothing society and ‘refreshment rooms’ to provide good-value food for his parishioners. Macleod also served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the church and as chaplain to Queen Victoria in Scotland. He is buried alongside his family in the churchyard. Other notable graves include those of Lt General David Macfarlane and his son Captain William Macfarlane, killed in the Second Boer War, and a number of Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves from both World Wars. The churchyard has cholera graves and is the resting place of poor souls from Lennox Castle when it was used as an asylum and hospital, not to mention the numerous family graves that record child mortality before the days of more advanced medicine and vaccines.
Services ceased and the High Kirk was sold off in 1976 after the Church of Scotland congregation merged with that of Trinity Church on Main Street.
Additional attractions within reach include Loch Katrine, immortalised in Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake, and the Devil’s Pulpit at Finnich Glen, a red sandstone gorge that featured in Outlander.
Proximity to Major Attractions:
Located approximately 20 km from Glasgow, Lennoxtown is ideally situated as a gateway to several popular tourist destinations in Scotland. The nearby Glengoyne Distillery, one of Scotland’s most beautiful distilleries, welcomes 90,000 to 100,000 visitors annually. Lennoxtown also provides convenient access to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, one of the country’s most frequented sites, renowned for its scenic landscapes and trails.
Lennoxtown’s close proximity to the Campsie Fells and Strathkelvin Railway Path makes it an ideal base for outdoor adventures, for mountain biking to nearby Kirkintilloch or, the other direction to Strathblane. The nearby West Highland Way, a celebrated 98-mile trail, and a make Lennoxtown a rest stop for long-distance hikers.