Dundee’s kirks

Donald Abbott of Invergowrie has been in touch and says: “The Gazetteer of Scotland 1883 shows the population of Dundee as follows 1841 – 63,732; 1851 – 90,426; 1871 – 120,547.

“It describes the Free Churches in Dundee as follows: ‘St Paul’s, St Peter’s, Mccheyne, Chapelshade, Wallacetown, Wellgate, Willison and the High Free Churches are all tasteful edifices, but St Andrew’s, St David’s, St John’s, Hilltown, Bonnethill and Ogilvie Free Churches are remarkably plain structures.’

“It also sets out information that ‘in 1882 a Miss Baxter and a Dr J.b.baxter (no relation) provided money for a college (forerunner of the University of Dundee). Of this money, £35,000 was used to purchase St John’s Free Church (then in Small’s Wynd) with the dwelling houses fronting the Nethergate between Small’s Wynd and Park Place, which with little expense could be converted into classrooms.’

“The former St John’s Free Church in Small’s Wynd was the first College Hall where the inauguration of University College was held on October 5 1883. This building was chosen in 1889 for the Medical Faculty, and opened in 1904.

“Of the dwelling houses fronting the Nethergate, one was Whiteleys, the manse of Free St John’s. That church was still listed as being in Small’s Wynd in the Dundee Directories of 1880/81 but listed as in Perth Road in 1882/83. Free St John’s also had a school in Park Wynd. The Perth Road/roseangle Church with its magnificent spire is today’s Dundee West Church of Scotland.”