Coltness Memorial Church, Church Avenue, Newmains

Coltness Memorial Church was built in 1878 by Alexander Wallace. This 6-bay, gabled church is rectangular in plan and stands as a memorial. A 3-stage, square-plan entrance tower is located on the north-west side. The church is constructed from squared and snecked, droved sandstone with ashlar detailing, featuring buttressed bays on the sides.

The north-west elevation, the principal facade, has a 3-stage tower attached to the nave. The ground floor of the tower features a pointed arch doorway with a 2-leaf door and decorative strap hinges. Above the doorway are paired, hoodmoulded lancet windows. A string course divides the first and second stages, above which is recessed cusped arcading with narrow vents, followed by three lancets with timber louvres. The tower is crowned by a crenellated parapet with gargoyles at the corners and a recessed spire. To either side of the tower, a lean-to aisle is present, with 2 bays to the left and 1 bay to the right, each featuring three hoodmoulded pointed arch windows and a continuous cill course. Narrow bays flank the aisle, featuring tall, hoodmoulded lancets.

The south-east elevation includes a blank bay to the outer left, a single lancet to the outer right, and paired lancets in the central bays. The south-west elevation has a large, hoodmoulded 3-light stepped lancet window to the gablehead, with a modern extension built below. The north-east elevation features a large, hoodmoulded 4-light pointed arch window with geometric tracery in a central, advanced gabled bay. This is flanked by a canted lean-to vestry and a secondary porch, each with a square-headed door to the front and arrow-slit windows in the returns, set under a Lombard frieze and corbel table.

The windows are square leaded glass. The roof is covered in grey slates with lead flashing, cast-iron rainwater goods, coped skews, and kneelered skewputts.

Inside, the 6-bay nave includes a western gallery. An arched arcade runs along the north aisle, leading to a shallow choir. The interior features polychromatic brickwork with colour bands, a diaper pattern, and stepped detailing. A pulpit is present with carved floral patterns, and the stained glass windows depict stylised floral and Biblical designs.

The church, which remains in ecclesiastical use, was designed by Alexander Wallace, likely commissioned by James Houldsworth of the Coltness Estate, who funded its construction. The Houldsworths, a wealthy Yorkshire textile family, moved to Wishaw to exploit the coal and iron boom and were responsible for estate building works from 1850 until the Great War. The church is of architectural interest due to its unusual Aesthetic Movement interior. Despite being closely surrounded by other buildings, it remains a prominent landmark in the surrounding countryside.