About
Our Mission
To continue growing in Christ we will :-
Increase our personal commitment to Him and each other through
- Fulfilling worship
- Greater involvement in prayer and Bible study
- Providing and promoting a comprehensive framework for Christian learning
- Become a more caring Church by
- Establishing a wider, warmer and more welcoming fellowship for all ages
- Sharing responsibility for pastoral care
- Increasing our support for missionary work
Heighten our influence in the local community by
- An ongoing, more varied, programme of outreach
- An effective youth programme
- Serving our community needs better
- Promote every member ministry
- Communicate effectively internally and externally
- Work in partnership where appropriate
- Maintain and develop contact with other churches
Our Vision
To be a caring Church rooted in God’s word, growing in Christ and transforming the community
Vision
To be a caring church rooted in God’s word, growing in Christ and transforming the community
Caring
1 John 4: 7 “Dear friends let us love one another, for love comes from God”.
We don't live in each others pockets and sometimes people are let down but as Christians we believe that part of our calling is to support and care for one another.
The minister often hears from people who have known support from people in the church and who say " I don't know how people cope who are not in a church"
Rooted in God’s Word
Psalm 119: 105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”
We believe that the Bible is God’s word and that it speaks to us at a different level to every other book. We don't always manage to follow it and we sometimes differ on what it means but we know that it is light for us to live by.
Growing in Christ
Psalm 1: 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
As Christians we are called to become more like Jesus in our lives. To show his love, grace and kindness, his gentleness and patience and his compassion...
We have to grow and mature in our faith. We organise things to help us grow like house groups and Bible studies but real growth comes in a deepening relationship with Jesus.
Transforming
2 Corinthians 3: 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
We believe that if everyone lived like Jesus the world would be a far better place. If our community was characterised by kindness and compassion and honesty and integrity then it would be a better community. We don't set out to judge people but we believe that a community transformed by the power of Jesus would be an even better community! Freeland Church has links with this area going back 280 years- our commitment to the community is probably unrivalled!!
History
280 years on the way
Freeland Church : History
The history of Freeland Church in Bridge of Weir has been described as one of the most interesting in the West of Scotland, as it reflects national events in the Church of Scotland from the early 18th Century up to the present. It includes many of the various schisms and reconciliations in the church throughout that time. It has been affiliated to different denominations. Major historical events have taken place during the lifetime of the congregation, from the Jacobite Rebellion and the Battle of Culloden in the earlier years to the two World Wars in the 20th Century.
It has been a long and testing journey which started in 1737, when there were only a few scattered farms in the area of Renfrewshire which we recognise today as Bridge of Weir. The original name was ‘Port o Weir’ which implied a place of crossing. This crossing was believed in fact to be a salmon weir located next to the very spot where the original ‘Burgher’ manse was built in 1826 on the south bank of the River Gryffe.
In 1826, it had become apparent that because of falling numbers, mainly as a result of the three way split in 1792, Johnstone, Lochwinnoch and Burntshields congregations. No future expansion of the congregation at Burntshields was likely and it was therefore decided to relocate the remaining congregation to a nearby growing community and Bridge of Weir was chosen as the most suitable place for this new venture. It had grown considerably as the cotton trade had expanded in the area and had seven works employing a total of nearly 700 people.
The last sermon at Burntshields was preached on 7th May 1826 and on the following Sunday, the new church opened in Bridge of Weir.
On the anniversary of Freeland Church’s 275 year a book was published which gives the history in more detail. If you would like a copy of this please do not hesitate to contact us at the website.
Our current Minister Kenneth Gray has just celebrated his 30th year with us. His ministry has been characterised by a great love for the Lord, a commitment to sharing His Word, a great love for the people of the church and parish.
Church Affiliations since 1738
The Killochries Community 1737 – 1738
The Associate Presbytery 1738 - 1746
The Burgher Church 1746 - 1806
The Auld Licht Burghers 1806 - 1839
The Church of Scotland 1839 - 1843
The Free Church 1843 - 1900
The United Free Church 1900 - 1929
The Church of Scotland 1929 to this day