KBC was founded on 5th February 1887 by five business men who had moved from Glasgow to live in the town. They first met at Wellcroft House, Bellfield, the home of Mr James Walker, one of their number. This group resolved to be a church that was “congregational in order, Baptist in practice and open in membership to all who love our Lord Jesus in sincerity.”
The church met initially in the homes of members but on the 1st May the first public services were held in a small upper hall in the Conservative Rooms situated by the Cross.
The founding of the church in Kirkintilloch took place in a period of phenomenal growth for Baptists in the Glasgow area. Between 1860 and 1920 when the population of Glasgow increased three fold, Baptist membership increased by six times. As the population of the Kirkintilloch Parish doubled, the church also expanded in size of congregation.
After five months, the congregation had grown to 59, by August 1888 it was 75 and in 1890 it had risen to 89. It soon became obvious that the church needed its own premises in which to meet and in 1887 the first building fund was opened. The fund grew so rapidly that the new building was opened on Sunday 5th August 1888 having cost £836 18s 11d and was debt free. The building was in Regent Street in the middle of town and seated 180 with comfort.
The plan had been to add to this building a larger church sanctuary to seat 500 people. However this plan was never carried out and the church hall remained as originally constructed until 1951.
From the beginning, the church had a flourishing children’s work. In 1888, cottage meetings were arranged, the forerunner of housegroups. The church also published a monthly magazine entitled “Earnest Words” which was both evangelistic and commented on public issues. These were widely circulated in the district, and the church at Helensburgh also distributed 400 free copies every month.
In 1889 the church sent out its first missionary, James Stark, who served with the China Inland Mission. This was the first in a long line of missionaries who have gone from the church to serve Christ overseas.
In 1951 the church, still situated in Regent Street and looking to expand its premises, were offered the South Church of Scotland in Townhead as a free gift. The church gladly accepted and on Sunday 9th September 1951 the first Baptist services were held in our former building. The congregation was swelled by 44 members of the church of Scotland who chose to remain in the church and join the Baptist congregation. The hall in Regent Street was in turn passed on to the YMCA and later to the 1st Kirkintilloch, 32nd Glasgow Company of the Boys Scouts and is still in their possession.
From this time on, the church has experienced steady growth, especially during the 1960s when the town became an overspill for Glasgow’s burgeoning population. In 1989, the Harestanes Congregation of Kirkintilloch Baptist Church was founded.
At present, the church has constructed a new building to facilitate new challenges in ministry and mission and as a response to structural problems.
At the end of January 2005, the church vacated the building at Townhead in order to let demolition and rebuilding take place.
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