Rorison Memorial Church And Memorial Obelisk, Ashgillhead Road, Ashgillhead

Dated 1889 and refurbished in 1912, Rorison Memorial Church is a small, gable-ended hall church with a squat, square-plan tower to the left, topped by a pyramidal spire and weather vane. The church is constructed of stugged and snecked cream sandstone ashlar, with polished and droved dressings. A string course runs along the gablehead. The windows have chamfered reveals, pointed arches, and hood moulds; the bargeboards are plain. Gabletted pilasters, extending three-quarters of the height rise flank the central two bays of the pediment, featuring droved angles to both long and short quoins.

The north (principal) elevation presents a four-bay gabled block to the right. A tall window is present in each bay of the slightly advanced two-bay central block. The gablehead above features triple slit openings, with a taller slit in the centre. Windows flank the other bays. The tower features two stone steps leading to a double-chamfered doorpiece and a double-leaf timber panelled door. A window and a trefoil-headed, deep set louvered opening are situated at ground level to the east. Coped battlements with machicolations top the tower. A window is set within the bay to the outer left.

Irregularly fenestrated piended kitchen and youth hall additions have been built to the rear (south) elevation.

The east (side) elevation has a triple-gabled church hall design, with two tall windows in each gable. A two-leaf timber door with a letterbox fanlight and a flanking window are set in a single-storey bay to the outer left. A drum vent with trefoil-headed openings and a distinctive roof is set on the central gable ridge.

The west (side) elevation has four bays, with a lower section of walled windows to the outer right. A window is set in each bay, and a bipartite window sits in the bay to the right. Steel or iron buttresses are between each bay.

Fixed small-pane leaded windows are present throughout, with some panes coloured. Timber sash and case windows are used in the rear additions. A grey slate roof covers the main building, while slate is used for the spire and the rear additions. An ashlar coped stack is on the south gable, and ashlar skews are on the hall gables. Cast-iron rainwater goods are in place.

Inside, the church is separated from the hall by timber panelled and glazed folding screen doors supported by octagonal ashlar columns. The church has a horizontally boarded coombed ceiling with corbelled stone ribs and a pierced circular vent. A leaf and dart cornice runs along the interior, with modern timber panelling at the south end. A carved timber pulpit, featuring pierced quatrefoil decoration, is positioned on a platform against the north wall, and a similarly decorated table altar stands in front. A gallery and a plain octagonal font are on the right. The hall has a flat ceiling with simple cornices, vertical boarding to dado rail height, and exposed timber floorboards.

To the left (east) of the front elevation stands a granite memorial obelisk commemorating the 1914-18 War. The lower stages are of hewn granite and contain triangular-headed name plaques on each side. The lower section of the obelisk bears an armorial shield with further names, and a foliate band is positioned below a carved flag.