Carbrain Baptist Church

The congregation known as Cumbernauld Baptist Church was constituted in 1962.  Like most churches in the early days of the town it began in rented premises in different areas of the older part of the town, first in the Kyle Road Community Centre in Kildrum, later the Glenhove Community Room in North Carbrain was also amongst the facilities used.  In addition to local pioneers there was solid support given by a number of members of other Baptist congregations in the district who continued their involvement until the success of the new cause was assured.  Sunday services had begun as early as August 1961 and the first minister Rev. Peter Bryan was inducted on 31 August 1963.  On 18 December 1965, this building was opened following a generous fund-raising effort by the Women's Auxiliary of the Baptist Union of Scotland.

Although until Sept 2005 there had only been one constituted Baptist congregation in the town, it was always the intention from an early stage in the church’s history for additional causes to be planted in other areas of Cumbernauld. Archibald McColl, minister from 1967 to 1990, was convinced of the necessity of this vision and led the church in taking active steps towards consideration of a church-plant in Abronhill and also in the new housing areas across the A80. For a variety of reasons the early promise in Abronhill did not come to fruition but his vision for a one church-multiple congregation model of Baptist witness, in which each congregation would be autonomous, that is entirely responsible for its own affairs, yet also interdependent, ‘supporting and co-operating in active fellowship’ with a sister congregation (s), a model which had worked well in East Kilbride was not given up, although no further progress was to be possible for a number of years.
 

 

It was in 1996, conscious of the growing housing areas across the A80 that there was a concern for the level of spiritual provision in that area. Various meetings for prayer and discussion took place, though Sunday services did not begin until 2003. In 2004 members of the two congregations began to work through the production of a constitution, not only for Broadwood Baptist Church, but also for a common agreement which would serve as the basis for the working relationship between the two congregations in the town and also for any future congregations. It was felt appropriate that the older congregation ought to change its name from that of the town, to the district in which its work is based and where its building is located. The name chosen at the church meeting on Thursday 12th May 2005 was Carbrain Baptist Church. Both congregations agreed that The Baptist Church in Cumbernauld would be constituted on Sunday 11 September 2005, by the reconstitution of Cumbernauld Baptist Church as Carbrain Baptist Church and later the same day by the constitution of Broadwood Baptist Church.

 

On July 15th 20007, Brian Talbot delivered his last sermon as Pastor of the Church.  Brian has answered a call to pastor at the Broughty Ferry Baptist Church.