SAVING FAIRLIE'S WONDERFUL CHURCH WINDOWS

The above was the banner headline in the LARGS & MILLPORT WEEKLY NEWS dated Friday, 22 October, 1999.The article, supported by photographs, gave some details of the Church stained glass windows. The reason for the report was that, prior to the alterations to be made to the Church, the windows and the surrounding stonework required repair.

Over the years the stonework wore away and led to a weakening of the support to the windows, causing a bowing of the struts which run through the frame of the windows. This meant that some of the windows had to be completely removed to be repaired and the stonework worked on to give the windows a more solid support. All this work guarantees that these spectacular windows will remain on view for many generations to come.

There are eight beautiful stained glass windows in the Church as follows:-

Subject: St Christopher & St George.
Location: West Wall (south).
Memorial: Lieut. Edward George Boyle (d. 1898).
Date: May 1900.
Said to be a copy of a window in a London church.
Subject: The Good Shepherd.
Location: West wall (middle).
Memorial: Allan family.
Artist: Gordon McWhirter Webster (1908-1987).
Date: 24.9.1932.
Subject: Sir Galahad in search of the Holy Grail.
Location: West wall (north)
Memorial: 2nd. Lieut. Alexander Middleton Dobie (d. 1918)
Artist: John Henry Dearle (1860-1932), Morris & Co., Hanover Square, London.
Date:......
Subject: St Kentigern & St Margaret.
Location: West transept.vMemorial: Parker family, 1807-1938.
Artist: James Powell & Sons, Whitefriars, London.(1834-1973).
Date: 25.10.1938.
Subject: Ascension of Christ.
Location: Chancel.
Memorial: Rev. James Richmond Wood.
Design: Rev. Arthur Allan.
Artist: Alfred Alexander Webster (1883-1915) of Stephen Adam Studios; posthumous work.
Date: 19.5.1930.
Subject: The House of Bethany.
Location: East wall (north).
Memorial: Rev. Arthur Allan (d. 1950); parish minister for 50 years.
Artist: Heaton, Butler & Bayne, London. (founded 1862).
Date: 14.5.1934.
Subject: St Michael & David the Shepherd.
Location: East wall. (middle).
Memorial: Captain James Boyle (d. 1914).
Artist: John Henry Dearle (1860-1932), Morris & Co., Hanover Square, London.
Date: .....
Subject: Courage & Endurance.
Location: East wall (south).
Memorial: 2nd. Lieut. Charles Tennent (d..1915).
Artist: John Henry Dearle (1860-1932), Morris & Co., Hanover Square, London
Date: 30.9.1917.

THE ROSE WINDOW

The Rose WindowTwo generous donations made possible the transfer of the Rose Window from the Church Hall to the Church; and grateful thanks to the donors was recorded.
The Rose Window, "Christ in Majesty", (designed by one of Scotland's foremost stained glass artists, Gordon M. Webster) was gifted by the Woman's Guild of St. Margaret's Church as part of the refurbishment of the Sanctuary and was dedicated by the Revd. Gordon Weir during the "Centenary and War Memorial Dedication Service" on 23rd September 1952.
Installed in the Church - and re-dedicated by the Revd. Robert J. Thorburn B.D. on Sunday 25th.May 1997.