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The beginnings of the Associate Congregation of Levenside (Renton), which sat within the Presbytery of Dumbarton, can be traced back to 1783 the year in which a group, though to have been resident within the Levenside area, petitioned the Burgher Presbytery of Glasgow requesting sermon. As a consequence the first minister of the congregation, William Taylor, was ordained in 1786. The congregation did not adopt the name of Renton until 1792, although the newly established village of Renton, within which the session met, had been in existence for some 10 years, since 1782. In 1800 the minister of Renton resigned from his position and united with the Original Burghers, taking the majority of his congregation with him. The second minister, John McKinlay, was soon appointed to Renton however in 1842 he and his congregation joined with the Reformed Presbyterians. Mr McKinley died in 1856 and his congregation later joined the Free Church in 1876, taking possession of their church and manse as they did so. The newly established Free Church charge reverted back to the old name of Levenside and in 1900, upon the union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, the session became Renton Levenside United Free Church. A number of years thereafter in 1910 Renton Levenside United Free joined with the congregation of Levenside South United Free to form the charge of Renton Levenside and South United Free Church. |