A PORT church has placed the names of all 237 Clyde-built ships drafted into service during the First World War at its altar in a unique act of Remembrance.

St Mary's Episcopal Church is paying tribute to the sacrifice of the shipyard workers who built the vessels and the thousands of lost souls on board, as part of their 100 years commemorations.

On Remembrance Sunday Reverend David Gifford will be surrounded by the names of all the great warships like the Scotts-built dreadnought HMS Colossus, which was hit during the Battle of Jutland.

The church is home to the Clydemen Lunch Club, an organisation which celebrates the history and traditions of shipbuilding on the Clyde.

Reverend Gifford said: "We are the only church in the United Kingdom and even in the whole of the Commonwealth to recognise the warships in this way.

"Every ship is represented with the numbers of servicemen who lost their lives on board - many of these war ships were torpedoed or shelled."

HMS Colossus was built in 1910 and involved in a number of operations including the Battle of Jutland.

She suffered only minor damage, although seven men were wounded on board.

The ship is among vessels big and small which are placed on the St Mary's altar including the Queen Mary and the ocean liner Lusitania.

A total of 1,198 passengers perished when it was torpedoed.

St Mary's and the Clydemen wanted to recognise not only those on board but the craftmanship, skills and the sacrifices of those who built them.

Reverend Gifford told the Telegraph: "Every rivet on those ships tells a story, of the workers who toiled in the yards, men and women.

"We cannot forget their efforts.

"It is incredible the number of ships that were built here on the Clyde."

Members of the Clydemen Lunch Club have been busy researching the history of the vessels in the run up to the Armistice Day commemorations.

The group was set up three years go and has been a huge success.

St Mary's minister David Gifford added: "I only expected around 20 people to come and there are about 90 every week.

"I wanted to recognise the importance of the shipyards locally and give people somewhere to come and talk about it.

"I come from a town in Wales which has lost heavy industry.

"I understand what it is like.

"I have learned so much."

The altar tribute follows on from a service last month in the church to recognise the war efforts at sea.

It was attended by Renfrewshire’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Peter McCarthy and Rear Admiral John Weale OBE among others and led by Greenock Sea Cadets.