Kilsyth has an absorbing history of religious belief, passion, fervour and dissent. Early Christian missionaries such as St Mirren were active in the area 1500 years ago. The first church was recorded in 1216, and there is mention of an early monastery. Since then, no major religious movement has passed Kilsyth by, from the desperate struggles of the Covenanters to the frenzied religious revivals of 1742, 1839, and 1908 when curious bystanders turned out to catch a glimpse of ecstatic converts being baptized in the near-freezing Banton Loch. Its only fair to point out there wasn't any TV or cinema in those days, so entertainment was in short supply...
William Irvine, the charismatic founder of the world-wide but secretive cult known as the "Two By Two's" was born and raised in Kilsyth - one of a long line of outstanding religious leaders from Kilsyth including the formidable James Robe, and William C Burns, the Presbyterian Missionary to China.
Religion has proved to be both a great binding force in the community, but also the source of grievous contention and strife. As recently as 1905, to the great and lasting shame of the town, anti-Catholic riots broke out. And the "demon drink" was banned from Kilsyth by the elders in 1920 in a sustained display of prohibitionist zealotry which lasted until 1967 .
People of all faiths and beliefs in Kilsyth (and also those of none) now work, pray, and even drink together to an extent that would have been impossible to contemplate in those hard-faced and intolerant times.
Photos: Left: The great bell of The Burns and Old Parish Church. Right: Tombstone of Revd. William Hamilton Burns, who "having left the established church for conscience sake in the year 1843 presided over the congregation of the Free Church here until the time of his death May 1859 at the 81st year of his age and the 60th of his ministry".
