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Burntshields Associate Congregation (Burgher) was established as the result of an unpopular settlement to the Parish Church of Burntshields in 1739. Members of the Associate Presbytery visited the district from this time and in May 1740 the Associate congregation began to insist on having sermon delivered only by those with a view to a permanent moderation, it wasn't however until 1744 that John McAra, the first minister of Burntshields Associate, was ordained. In 1799, following a vacancy within Burntshields Burgher Church, it was proposed that the Burgher Formula adhered to by the congregation be modified and accordingly Burntshields Associate from this time came under the inspection of the Old Light Presbytery. In 1801, Alexander Brown, their first minister under the new Presbytery, was ordained. In 1826 Burntshields Associate congregation sold their church and moved to Bridge of Weir where a new church and manse were erected. In 1839 minister and congregation entered the Church of Scotland but withdrew in 1843 at the time of the Disruption, when they adhered to the Free Church. Following the union of the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland in 1900, Bridge of Weir Free Church was renamed Bridge of Weir Freeland United Free Church, and upon the 1929 union of the United Free Church of Scotland and Church of Scotland, Bridge of Weir Freeland United Free became Bridge of Weir Freeland Church of Scotland. In 1972 Bridge of Weir Freeland was linked with Houston and Killellan, but this arrangement was terminated in 1977. The congregation of Bridge of Weir Freeland Church of Scotland sits under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Paisley. |