Reverend John Stewart

On the 2nd of March, 1886, Rev. John Stewart, the first minister of the Free Church of Ardrossan died, having served the church faithfully for forty years.  The Free Church of Ardrossan was founded on 11th January 1844.  They held their early church services on top of Castle Hill.  By January 1945 the congregation had erected and moved into their first church building in Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

John Stewart was born on 9^th October 1822 in Dudhope House, Broughty Ferry, Angus, the second of nine children, born to parents John Stewart, a nurseryman, and Janet Stewart.

He studied at the United College, St Andrews, from 1838 to 1842, during which time he served as the Stewart Bursar in 1838; then St. Mary’s College, University of St. Andrews from 1842 to 1843, followed by New College, University of Edinburgh from 1843 to 1845 and again from 1847 to 1848.

On 18^th May 1843, while at St. Mary’s College, University of St. Andrews, John Stewart took part in the Disruption procession from the Church of St Andrew to Tanfield Hall, where the first meeting of the Free Church of Scotland took place.  After receiving his licence in 1845 John found a position as an assistant minister of Inchinnan Free Church, Renfrewshire, before receiving a unanimous call to Ardrossan Free Church, where he was ordained in September 1846. 

In 1847 the Free Church’s first elders and deacon were elected and the Free Church school was opened, with school fees costing between 3s 6d and 4s 6d.

On 24 February 1848, the Rev. John Stewart and Mary Hill were married in Broughty Ferry by the Rev. John Lyon, minister of the Free Church of Scotland.  Their marriage was registered in both Mary’s hometown of Montifieth and Ardrossan.  The newly married couple initially lodged with church elder, Mr Colin McIntyre in Princes Street, Ardrossan, before moving into the newly built Free Church Manse in 1850, on what would later become known as Eglinton Road.  By 1854 the cost of the first church building and the manse had been fully paid off.

In 1855 the congregation started saving to build a larger church.  Situated on the corner of Montgomerie Street and Barr Street, the new Free Church of Ardrossan first opened its doors on Sunday 6^th February 1859.  In the evening a soiree was held in the church building to commemorate its opening which was attended by 200 people.  The old church building in Glasgow Street was sold and became a mill wright’s shop.

As well as caring for his congregation, Rev. Stewart served as a member of the Ardrossan School Board and frequently visited the local schools. 

Rev. Stewart and his wife Mary had eight children: John, born circa 1850; David, born circa 1852; Mary, born 22 January 1855; Isabella, born 4^th September 1857; Janet, born 16^th October 1859; William, born 7^th October 1861; Duncan MacFarlane, born 16^th March 1863 and James Hill, born 7^th November 1868.  All the children were born in Ardrossan.  Their eldest son John worked as an engineer for the Indian General Steam Navigation Company (IGSN) in Calcutta, while their youngest son James emigrated to Melbourne, Australia.

Rev. John Stewart suffered an attack of angina on Sunday 31^st January as he was preparing for the morning church service but recovered sufficiently enough to meet with the church office bearers on Monday.  On the morning of Tuesday 2^nd March 1886, he suffered a massive heart attack and died, aged 63.  He was buried in Ardrossan cemetery. After his death, his family presented the church with a panel to commemorate his work which was placed in the church vestibule.