The History of Breich Valley Church
Longridge Church
The first secession in the Church of Scotland took place in 1733 over the right of Heritors to present the
minister of a charge. In 1747, there was considerable excitement over the Burgess Oath, and soon a Burgher
Party was formed in the district with preaching stations at Torphichen, Bathgate and Whitburn.
In 1772 the Whitburn district applied to be recognised as a distinct congregation. Their prayer was granted
by the Synod in May 1774. Meantime a place of worship for this congregation had been built at Longridge.
At that time the congregation was known as the Whitburn Secession Burgher Church.
Preachers were scarce in those days, and it was not until 22nd May, 1777, that the Rev. John Brown was
ordained and inducted as their first minister. John Brown was the son of the more famous John Brown, the self-taught scholar, minister of great eminence, and Professor of Theology at the Burgher Hall. Young John Brown was a kind and pious soul, living a life of prayer with a zeal for souls and the glory of God. During his ministry the congregation flourished.
Mr. Brown's health began to fail, and in 1831, the Rev. William Millar of Stonehouse was settled, as colleague and successor. He was not to enjoy the wise counsel of John Brown for long, the faithful workman was called to his rest and reward on loth February, 1832, at the age of 78 years and in the 55th year of his ministry. His burial place is on the west side of the Whitburn South Church where provision is made for his successors. In 1786, a manse was built near the church.
Mr. Millar followed the footsteps of his predecessor. He was a warm hearted man, an eloquent preacher, and much beloved by his people. Although the alterations to the church with an addition of a loft and stairway had been made, it was obvious that the building had become too small for the congregation. In 1841, the recent church was built at a cost of £1,800.
Ill health dogged the Rev. Wm. Millar, and he was forced to resign his charge in 1852, after 21 years as minister of Longridge. He was succeeded by the Rev. James Ronaldson who laboured effectively for 34 years, when he left his charge for New Zealand. During his ministry the Centenary Celebrations of the congregation took place, and the list of speakers includes the name of Professor John Cairns, D.D., of Berwick. This point is interesting, because a nephew of the Professor, Principal David Cairns, D.D., of Christ's College, Aberdeen, and a great grandson of the Rev. John Brown, preached at the Centenary Celebrations of the church in 1946. These celebrations had to be delayed from 1941 because of the Second World War.
Mr. Ronaldson was followed by the Rev. John Gibson who was inducted in 1886. He died in the manse in 1923.
During these 146 years the congregation at Longridge had been served by only four ministers. It became known locally as the ‘Farmers' Kirk’ , most of the farmers in the district being members. Tales were told of the roads from Forth, Whitburn and Fauldhouse being black with people walking to the church. There was housing for 17 horses in the stables next to the old Session House.
Since 1924 the congregation have been served by the Rev. A. Paterson, the Rev. J. Young, the Rev. J. Swanson, the Rev. J. W. R. Rutledge, Rev H Greenwood, Rev J Harris, Rev R Gall and Rev D Main. From the time of the Union with the Church of Scotland in 1929 the congregation has become severely depleted. Many worshippers, reluctant to make the long journey to Longridge, joined congregations nearer their homes.
In 1964, because of failing health, Mr, Rutledge resigned his charge in favour of the linkage being effected between Longridge and Crofthead which had been vacant for some time. Over the years the church changed its affiliations, originally it was a Burgher Kirk, later the church was to split into the Auld and the New Lichts. Longridge (burgher) church joined with Breich United Presbyterian Church in the United Presbyterian denomination. Later becoming part of the United Free Church of Scotland and most recently Church of Scotland in 1929.
Ministers of Longridge Church
1777-1832 The Rev John Brown
1832-1852 The Rev William Millar
1852-1886 The Rev James Ronaldson
1886-1923 The Rev John Gibson
1923-1929 The Rev Alexander Paterson
1929-1938 The Rev John Young
1938-1947 The Rev James Swanson
1948-1964 The Rev James W. R. Rutledge
1964-1985? The Rev H. Greenwood
As Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn
Rev Ronald Gall 1985-1991
Rev James Craig Harris 1993-1997
Rev Douglas MacPherson Main (Interim Minister) 1998-2000
Addiewell Church
Addiewell Church was founded as a mission church in 1871 and raised to a quoad sacra church linked to
West Calder parish in 1882. The church was built in 1884. On 4th April 1885 Mrs Grant, the wife of the
minister at West Calder laid the memorial stone and Rev I D Grant laid the foundation stone on top of a
glass time capsule that was opened up in 2001. The first minister of Addiewell Church was
Rev W P McLaren in 1885. The church had been built on land gifted by James “Parafin” Young whilst
the capital to build the church was raised in the surrounding villages where the population mainly worked in the Addiewell Oil Works. Papers found in the time capsule buried under its foundation stone describe members of the mission which preceded the founding of the church as "exclusively of the working class".
Poor though they were, most of them employees of shale king James "Paraffin" Young, they managed to give £101 towards its total cost of around £1500.
One of the main benefactors was William McCutchon, an Ayrshire man who lived at Breich Villa and managed Young's shale oil works at Addiewell. He paid for the bell that still hangs in the church. It was cast in memory of his daughter, Maggie, who died of consumption at the age of 34.
His letter, in beautiful copperplate, read
"In the glass jar that will I placed under the memorial stone to be laid tomorrow the 4th April there will be several papers giving particulars of the contributors to the erection of the above church.
"This is to certify that the bell was presented to me in memory of my beloved daughter Maggie McCutchon who died here of consumption on Sabbath the 5th August, 1883. After an illness about 14 months, she suffered with great meekness and patience, and passed away suddenly of congestion of both lungs. "She was carefully and tenderly nursed by her aunt, my sister Ann McCutchon. My sister Ann's mind gave way through grief after the death of my daughter and she is still suffering”.
Ministers of Addiewell Church:
Rev WP McLaren 1879-1902?
Rev Jamie 1903-1929
Rev Robson 1930-1940
Rev G Lyons 1940?- 1948
Rev C Gillfillan 1950’s
Rev D Bell 1950’s-1963
Rev T Dundas 1960’s-1983
As Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn:
Rev Ronald Gall 1985- 1991
Rev James Craig Harris 1993-1997
Rev Douglas MacPherson Main (Interim Minister) 1998-2000
Stoneyburn Church
In 1730 the station at Bents was disjoined from Livingston Parish as part of the newly formed Whitburn
Parish. For many years this was agricultural land with no village existing in an area that was then a farm.
In 1874 Drumpellier Coal Company began working the coal seams on Thomas Maxwell Durham's Foulshiels
Estate leading to the formation of the Loganlea Coal Company which took over the running of this pit.
This subsequently led to the building of houses to accommodate the miners along what would
become the Main Street. Addiewell was a Home Mission station in 1902, served by a probationer.
On 19th July 1910 the Presbytery ordained Willian Ewan, MA, who was probationer in charge. In May 1919
the Presbytery agreed to create a congregation of Addiewell and Stoneyburn under one minister and Kirk Session. Mr Ewan resigned in Dec 1919. Mission work had begun at Stoneyburn in 1917. A new church at Addiewell was opened on 29th November 1914 and another at Stoneyburn on 5th November 1925. A manse was built at Stoneyburn in 1927. George Bryan Goldie was inducted to Addiewell and Stoneyburn 29th January 1920, and translated to Newarthill on 11th November 1926. George Fraser was translated and inducted to Addiewell and Stoneyburn 5th October 1927 and demitted office on 31st May 1953. On 7th January 1954 William Peter John Mackenzie was appointed; he demitted office to take up an appointment in Portsmouth 19th February 1958. John Thomas Kirkhope Mitchell was inducted 9th October 1958. He retired 31st October 1981 and died 25th April 1986. Brian Sydney Sheret was ordained and inducted to Stoneyburn 7th December 1982. He demitted office 31st January 1985 and on 1st February 1985 Stoneyburn was linked with Addiewell, Longridge and Breich.
Ronald Gall was ordained and inducted to Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn on 6th October 1985 and translated to Connel on 12th October 1991. James Craig Harris was inducted to Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn on 6th January 1993. He died 12th February 1997. Douglas MacPherson Main became interim minister to Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn in 1998, and became interim minister of the united charge of Breich Valley on 16th February 2000.
Ministers of Stoneyburn:
As Addiewell Home Mission Station:
Rev William Ewan 1910-1919
As Addiewell & Stoneyburn:
Rev George Bryan Goldie 1920-1926
Rev George Fraser 1927-1953
Rev William Peter John Mackenzie 1954-1958
Rev John Thomas Kirkhope Mitchell 1958-1981
Rev Brian Sydney Sheret 1982-1985
As Addiewell with Longridge and Breich with Stoneyburn:
Rev Ronald Gall 1985- 1991
Rev James Craig Harris 1993-1997
Rev Douglas MacPherson Main (Interim Minister) 1998-2000
Breich Valley Parish Church
Breich Valley Parish Church was formed in February 2000 bringing together the three congregations
of Longridge and Breich, Stoneyburn and Addiewell. Land was purchased and a new building erected
at 5 Cannop Crescent in Stoneyburn with the manse being the old Stoneyburn manse at 49 Main
Street. Rev Douglas main continued as interim minister of the new charge. The new church was
dedicated on 12th May 2004 and Rev Tom Preston was the first minister who sadly died in post on
30th June 2011. He was followed by Rev Robert Malloch who translated to Almondbank Tibbermore in 2019. Rev Robert Craig was called in 2020 and became interim moderator of Whitburn South Parish Church in 2021. On 1st February 2024 Breich Valley and Whitburn South were united to form Whitburn Burnfield Valley South Church of Scotland with Robert Craig as minister. Both churches were retained as was the South Manse in Whitburn. The manse at 49 Main Street in Stoneyburn was disposed of.
Ministers of Breich Valley Parish Church:
Rev Tom Preston 2000-2011
Rev Robert Malloch 2013-2019
Rev Robert Craig 2020-2024
Ministers of Whitburn Burnfield Valley South Church of Scotland:
Rev Robert Craig 2024-present
