I recently carried images of two former Greenock churches – the East Kirk in Regent Street and the South Kirk in Ann Street.

While it was known both churches had closed when photographed, I said the East Kirk image dated to 1976 but was not aware when the South Kirk one was taken, although I believed the latter closed in the 1960s.

Local historian Eric Webster has kindly advised the South Kirk united with the Mount Park church in Trafalgar Street in 1965.

The new congregation became known as South Park Church and worshipped in the Trafalgar Street building, pictured today but now long gone.

The first minister of the new South Park was the Rev James H Simpson whose induction took place in September, 1965.

I am also indebted to Eric for the information that the South Park and Mount Pleasant Churches united in 1982.

A Telegraph story in October of that year reported that the South Park and Mount Pleasant congregations would come together at a special service the following month.

After that date the united congregation would use Mount Pleasant Church in Dempster Street for worship and it would be called the Mount.

The paper stated that in an unusual move the new church was due to have two ministers for a period.

It was planned the Rev James H Simpson, of South Park, and the Rev J McCallum Young, of Mount Pleasant, would jointly run the charge until the latter’s retirement.

The Mount Kirk in Dempster Street remains a place of worship today.