A new blog giving regular updates on the progress of the former Barony St John Church and Halls in Ardrossan has been started by the Executive Manager of the charity that bought the buildings last December.

Alan Bell of The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety is giving a ‘behind the scenes’ insight into why the charity bought these premises, their plans for the future and the many discoveries and mysteries they have uncovered during the last year.

One such mystery is linked with church buildings iconic ship weathervane.

An article first published in the ‘Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald’ on August 7, 1885, provided the historical details;

“The model ship presented by A D Bryce-Douglas esquire has this week been successfully placed on the steeple of the new Parish Church, Ardrossan. The old stone courses at the top of the steeple were taken down a distance of nine feet, the old rod taken out and a new rod two inches thick by twenty feet long inserted. From the top of the base stone to the deck of the ship is eleven feet and the rod rises seven feet clear of the topmost point of the steeple, the indicators north, south, east and west being midway between that and the ship. The work is being done by Mr John Boyd, mason, Mr Robert Barbour junior, joiner, the steeplejack in this instance being Mr John Mellon, joiner, Vernon Street, Saltcoats who has done several jobs of this sort in Paisley and elsewhere. The ship is four feet eight inches long by eight inches broad of beam, three feet intervening between keel and the truck on main topmast. The hull and rigging are of copper, yards of brass and she is steered by “double spankers” or main sheets.”

Intriguingly, Alan uncovered a small piece of graffiti carved into one of the pews – a wonderful image apparently of the weathervane’s ship with the name ‘Thomas Scott’, the word ‘Ardrossan’ and the date ‘1855’.

Now here’s the mystery – in two parts; Who was Thomas Scott? If it was your great, great, great grandfather then please let us know.

And, this is the weird part, the ship was erected in 1885 but this graffiti seems to have been carved into the pew in 1855, 30 years prior, or was it?

Was the ship etched into the pew after Thomas Scott carved his name and date into it? And if so was it Thomas Scott who carved the ship or a different person?

Another blog reveals a very special Jesus in a stained glass window. This depiction of Jesus shows Him with a decidedly bare chin rather than the full beard and moustache we are used to seeing. Is this the only depiction of Jesus with a mutton chop moustache?

If you would like to read more, log onto The Ardross-Man blog which can be located at www.ardrossman.wordpress.com and if you would like to make a donation or help raise money for the charity to save these church buildings, contact them via info@ScotCPS.org.uk

We will be publishing future articles as more discoveries are made including several bibles which have been found dating back to the 19th Century.