Our History

Built in 1863, by Bathgate Presbyterian Parish Church as a mission station, our church was originally known as Armadale Free Kirk. It remained a chapel of ease for almost twenty years and was initially served by Mr William Kerr who was received as a Preacher of the Gospel by the Linlithgow Presbytery on the 20 October 1863. Mr. Kerr served in Armadale until he was lost at sea, whilst travelling on the SS London to Australia, in January 1866.^†

The church was elevated from a mission to the status of full charge in 1884. Rev. Robert Cameron, the first Minister of the Parish, organised a three-day bazaar which raised enough funds to enable the church to become a quoad sacra parish. Rev. Cameron served the parish until his death in 1909 after which a memorial tablet was erected on the south side of the chancel.^††

Rev. John Drew (minister from 1909 - 1922) had the Church building enlarged and transformed the interior "making the church one of the finest places of worship in the district."^††† Rev. Drew also built a new manse on High Academy Street and arranged for the relocation of a Y.M.C.A. hut from Turnhouse Airport to serve as the church hall. These projects were initiated before the Great War, in which Rev. Drew served in McCrae's Battalion (16 Battn. of the Royal Scots), and were completed on his return to ministerial duties after the war.^†††

During the ministry of Rev. Alexander A Morton (1928 - 1931), our Church became known as West Church to distinguish it from the United Free Church on South Street (which was renamed East Church in 1931). In 1976, the church building on South Street was demolished and the two churches amalgamated. After this union, during the term of Rev. Emmanuel Robertson, our church came to be known as Armadale Parish Church.