History of Port Nazarene
History of our Church building ...
The Church of the Nazarene has been part of the life of the Port Glasgow community since 1925! Our home for a long time was in Bruce Street, before moving on 13th August 1966 to our present location on Clune Brae. We may have changed in some ways, but we still hold true to our core belief that Jesus can save lives and change people for good.
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A Welcome to you!
Helping People Find God: That's what we, the Church of the Nazarene, are here for. It has been our mission and purpose from the time the church doors first opened in 1925. From that time many lives and families have been blessed by the grace of God. Lives have been changed through the forgiveness of sins. Peace, joy and hope have been experienced because of the love of God.
We continue to be a Christ-centred group of ordinary people, who have come to know Jesus as our own personal Saviour.
Today you will discover our church has a blend of traditional and contemporary style of service, ministering to all ages. We seek to find the relevance of God in our lives in a natural and normal way. We have a desire to serve our community, sharing God's love in a genuine and practical manner, whenever we have the opportunity.
You are welcome to come along at any time. In fact we would be delighted to see you. If you have a connection with the church from the past, we invite you to come back again. We're here to 'Help People Find God' for themselves - what a difference God will make in your life.
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Port Glasgow Church of the Nazarene - Summary of Pastors through the years:
1924 - Interest shown in starting a Holiness Church.
1925 - Port Glasgow Church of the Nazarene formed.
Pre-1929 - No records available.
1929-1931 - Rev J. B. MacLagan (no record of when Rev J. B. MacLagan first became Pastor)
1932 - Rev G. D. Grey
1933-1936 - Pastor Robertson
1937-1942 - Pastor Peter Clark
1942-1944 - Pastor Frank Clark
1944-1952 - Rev J. D. Lewis
1952-1954 - Rev Warren S. Tranter
1955-1963 - Rev David J.Tarrant
1964-1967 - Rev Eric Lucas
1968-1975 - Rev W. B. Kelly
1976-1977 - Rev Peter W. Gentry
1978-1982 - Rev Raymond Busby
1982-1985 - Rev Peter W. Gentry
1985-1986 - Pastoral Vacancy
1987-1991 - Rev David H. Edgar
1991-1992 - Pastoral Vacancy
1993-1998 - Rev Christopher J. Girvan
1999-2002 - Pastoral Vacancy
2002- - Rev Ian Stewart
2017- 2020 - Associate Pastor Jaclyn Kay Tarrant Joined Pastor Ian Stewart
2020- Associate Pastor Jaclyn Kay Tarrant moved to our church in Govan
2021- Rev Ian Stewart formally retired on 1st January
2021- Pastor Tim Burton and Aroha of our Houston church take part control of church services during vacancy
History of the Church of the Nazarene
History of our Name...
Matthew 2:23 "... and he (Jesus) went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets; 'He will be called a Nazarene.'"
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The name identifies the Church with the title that was given to Jesus and to the people who associated with him who, in Acts, are referred to as Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).
History of our Denomination...
We are part of a denomination called the Church of the Nazarene. We have a Biblical and Wesleyan understanding of God, both of which shape our beliefs and the ways we express the Kingdom of God with our lives.
The Church of the Nazarene was born in the USA around the turn of the 20th Century. It is a holiness church which means it was a product of the holiness revivals that swept the US and Europe in the late 19th century. It traces its historical lineage through the Methodist Church to John Wesley and considers itself a part of the mainline history of the Christian Church.
Click here for more information about the Church of the Nazarene’s history and present-day involvement in the UK and beyond.
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Our Denomination's Mission: Our mission is for every person to know and personally experience the love and grace offered through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We hope to offer a space where people feel embraced, encouraged and empowered to live into their full potential as God's created children. The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church. Our mission is to make Christlike disciples in the nations. We believe that God offers to everyone forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose, love, meaning in life, and the promise of heaven when life is over by entering and experiencing a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are called to take this message to all people.
