The district of Shettleston in Glasgow is known as a socially deprived area. It was said, some years ago, that the life expectation of a Shettleston man was 58 years. It has suffered not only social deprivation, but also diminution of evangelical witness.
Within the presbytery of the Church of Scotland in the area there have been several church closures and mergers of local congregations. The evangelical witness in the district is sparse.
The Free Church of Scotland has had a witness in Shettleston since the Disruption of 1843. A small minority remained out of the Union of 1900 and built the present church in 1909.
In the Free Church division of 2000, the whole congregation under the ministry of Rev. John Harding remained with the Free Church (Continuing). Following Mr Harding, Rev. David Fraser ministered there until his retirement in 2016, when Rev. Andrew Allan took over as interim-moderator.
It is a matter for thankfulness and encouragement that the congregation has been able to have Rev James Haram as their new pastor.
