Our Church is the earliest Congregational Church in Dundee.
It originated from the union of two churches, which existed in the town at the end of the eighteenth century, and has
continued in ecclesiastical use since its completion.
The Church was designed by the architect
James Brewster and opened in 1833. The designation Ward Chapel adopted from the name of a field in part of which it
was erected. The Church forms an axial focal point at the west end of Euclid Street. Ward Chapel opened
with 1200 sittings at a cost of £2810. The building is rectangular in plan, designed as Gothic Church with later
single storey schoolrooms flanking the apse. The Church has traceried, pointed arch windows to the front and simpler
windows to the north, south and west elevations and also in the western apse. The interior of the building had
a substantial amount of well-crafted decorative timber work.
Known as the Cathedral of Congregationalism
in Scotland, the building is unusually ambitious for its date and has been associated with many influential families of the
Dundee area who have worshipped here. These included manufacturers, merchants, dyers, mill-owners, foundry-owners, such
as the Baxters, Buists, Carmichaels, Gilroys, Halleys, Hendersons, Lows, Neishs, Prains, Scotts and Stevensons.
Over
the years the successive congregations have commissioned a series of additions and alterations to the building. Most
recent alteration was in 2003 with the removal of two dozen pews to allow the construction of a Welcome Hall with a glazed
screen, a prayer corner and steps were made to the Chancel using some of the old pews.
Historic Scotland, through
their funding, have allowed us to make essential repairs to the roof and so keep the building watertight. Any member
of the public can request access to view our beautiful building by contacting any of the office-bearers on the contacts page.
You will be made most welcome.
