Thomas Telford - The 'Telford Church'

The 'Telford Church'

An Act of Parliament in 1823 provided for the building of up to 40 churches and manses in communities without any church buildings (hence the alternative name: 'Parliamentary Church'). The total cost was not to exceed £1500 on any site and Telford was commissioned to undertake the design. He developed a simple church of T-shaped plan and two manse designs - a single-storey and a two-storey, adaptable to site and ground conditions, and to brick or stone construction, at £750 each. Of the 43 churches originally planned, 32 were eventually built around the Scottish highlands and islands (the other 11 were achieved by redoing existing buildings).