The History of Whitburn Brucefield Church

The origins of Brucefield Church go back to 1766, when a Secession Church, a breakaway from the Parish Church, was formed.  A Church was built at the junction of Longridge Road and Dixon Terrace, where today a memorial plaque marks the spot. This building was known as “the barracks”, although in reality it housed only theological students, never soldiers! They came to Whitburn to study under the first minister, Professor Archibald Bruce. In the 19th century the congregation became Whitburn Free Church and moved to a new building on the Main Street. Today known as the Shaw Hall this is still part of the Brucefield buildings. It was in 1929, with the union of the United Free Church and the Established Church, that the congregation first took the name Brucefield. The present sanctuary was built in 1966, and is ‘A’ listed by Historic Scotland as a building of major architectural interest.