Note: You may find it easier to print this page rather than reading it on screen (on most printers the page will print in black ink).
THE BEGINNING: THE FIRST 50 YEARS
Irvine Free Church, already meeting in Hamilhill Chapel, was constituted in 1849 to become the second Free Church in the town following the Disruption of 1843, the first being Fullarton Free Church - what we now know as the Fullarton Centre and what was formerly Wilson Fullarton Church.
On the 5th June 1849, Edinburgh sanctioned a new charge relative to the new station in the Burgh
of Irvine and on 19th June the formation of the interim Kirk Session was approved. It was on the
17th August that the first Elders were appointed. The first minister, Rev Wm. Cousin, was appointed in January 1850 and the closest we can get to a date of entry into the church building itself is 29th April 1850.
From early documentation it has been assumed that the boundary drawn between the Fullarton
Free Church and Irvine Free Church affectionately known as `the Kirk on the hill' was the river itself. In 1853, the sum of debt for the church building was the princely amount of £877 and thanks to the generosity of Mr John Allan Rankin the full debt including interest was cleared. There is little wonder then that when it came about later that the church should have a change of name that the first suggestion was `The Rankin United Free Church'. The generosity from Mr Rankin did not end in the debt of the Church being cleared but later he was to make the donation of the first Manse. The first decade of the church was to also see the end of Mr Cousin's ministry when he received the call to serve in Melrose.
The second minister was the Rev R S Macaulay who preached from January 1860 until 1900. As can be seen from the plaque of remembrance in the sanctuary this was the longest serving minister and one of the most dearly loved. The one piece of history that stands out from any other during this time of ministry is how far advanced the church seemed to be in the recognition of voting rights.
In 1872 female as well as male communicants were allowed to vote on the election of elders. Is it possible this was the first step in the recognition of Women's rights and the forerunner of all that has happened since?
THE SECOND 50 YEARS
Following on from Mr Macaulay, was the Rev J Esslemont Adams who presided over the
40th Anniversary of Mr Macaulay's ministry which was celebrated on 29th April 1900. Soon after this date we had the consummation of the union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church which then gave four congregations in the town these being Mure, Trinity, Relief and Fullarton.
It was at this point that the name of the church changed from Irvine Free Church to Mure United Free Church.
The Deacon's court were undecided between the names of Rankin UF Church and Mure UF Church and it was agreed on 11 th October to name the church after the Misses Mure of Perceton due to their generosity but if the Misses Mure did not agree the Rankin UF Church would be used. During this ministry the church hall and vestry were built and were officially opened on 5th October 1903. On a light note Kirk session records show a report that the roof of the vestry was letting in water in late 1903 - early 1904 and what's more, it still does!
The Rev James Cosh was elected on lst July 1907 and served for 9 years during which the following events were of interest. In January 1909 Mr George Young was appointed as the first Organist and Conductor and in 1910 the first church organ was purchased for £70. In 1907 Miss Mure cleared the debt of £80 which had been borne to build the church hall. Two other significant events were celebrated with the insertion of memorial tablets in the fabric of the church.
The first was gifted by Mrs Leiper in memory of Rev and Mrs Hugh Jaffery, Millicent Fleeming Leiper and Miss Anne Ferguson, Mrs Margaret Hunter and Miss Mary Anne Walker who all worshipped in the church and was unveiled in 1912. The second is in memory of Rev R S Macaulay and was unveiled in 1914.
Following on from the building of the vestry and the hall there was a remaining debt in 1907 of £80. Once again the generosity of Miss Mure was seen in clearing this debt. Mr Cosh was to remain as minister until January 1916 when he received a call to Dundee.
The departure of Mr Cosh led to the appointment of the Rev C R Munro on 21 st June 1916. During the time of his ministry an Envelope System of collection was discussed and put into effect on lst May 1923.
Something that we all take for granted was also introduced in 1921, namely electric lighting.
Another suggestion that was to come in 1921 was the Mure and Trinity congregations should merge and thankfully this was not to take place.
Mr Munro was to end his time with the Mure at the end of 1923 and was succeeded in 1924 by the Rev R Waldrum. Another move forward was the introduction of individual cups for dispensing wine at communion in 1924 and the revised Hymnary was also introduced in February 1928.
After one failed attempt the church became part of the Church of Scotland due to reunion making the church change its name slightly to become Mure Church of Scotland. April 1929 saw Mr Waldrum move on and Rev John Hill was inducted on 11 th December 1929.
In 1930 The Woman's Guild presented the Communion table and Minister's chair and the Girls Association gifted four Communion plates. The Girls Association also gifted, in 1932, two Communion chairs for Elders use and in 1935 a new Pulpit Bible. In 1932 a Communion Cup filler was gifted by the Woman's Guild.
September 1937 until 1946 saw the ministry of Rev Alexander Grieg. Plans were afoot in 1937 to build a new manse but in April 1938 the villa 'Hillcrest' was purchased at the Stanecastle. 1943 saw the purchase of a new Hammond organ and in the final year of Mr Grieg's ministry the church spire had to be shortened due to a crack in it. Such a shame really when you see how it looked and how easy it could have been to repair by today's standards.
The Rev Alexander Lawson was inducted in 1947 and in 1949 the Mure Church (3rd Irvine) Boys Brigade was formed. Also in this year a company of Girl Guides was formed for the girls of the church.
THE LATEST 50 YEARS
Rev George Corfield 1953-1961 was the first minister to reside at the manse where it is now. Built after comparing the cost of renovating Hillcrest at the Stanecastle and the cost of building a manse on our own land. The manse with its commanding views from the top of the hill was another great step forward in the growth and development of the church.
Rev George B Robertson was minister of Mure Church between the years of 1961-1968 and was followed by Rev Robert Sawers 1969-1976.
New halls - named The Robert Sawers Memorial Hall - were built, but not completed, prior to the death of Mr Sawers.
In the history of the Mure, we have been fortunate to have some wonderful ministers. Only two ministers have served more that twenty years the first being Rev R.S.Macaulay who preached for forty years from 1860 until 1900, the second being our present minister Rev Hugh M Adamson, who has served from 1976 to the time of this 150th Anniversary year of 1999.
During this time many faithful members have gifted items to the church including a new Prayer box in memory of Stuart Inglis and new Main doors to the church in memory of the longest serving elder, session clerk Mr Leslie Childes. Also a substantial bequest by Mrs Cumming was received some of which was used to purchase new Communion Plates and silverware.
