Church Of Scotland Trinity Church, Alexander Street, Renton

The Church of Scotland Trinity Church, located on Alexander Street in Renton, was built in 1891-92 by H and D Barclay. It is a squat, T-plan Gothic church distinguished by its tall, three-stage entrance tower centrally positioned on the west-facing gable. The church is constructed from stugged squared and snecked red sandstone, with bull-faced margins and dressings. A base course, hoodmoulds, diagonal buttresses, and a bracketted eaves cornice are prominent features.

The west elevation showcases three bays leading to the advanced entrance tower, which features stylised crowsteps. The tower has three stages, string courses, and a stepped crenellated parapet with waterspouts. A broad, three-centred arched entrance with paired doors is at ground level, with blind tracery above the arch, a stepped hoodmould with crocketted detail, and diagonal buttresses. Above the entrance is a paired pointed arch window with a shared mullion and hoodmould. Flanking the tower are symmetrical gable bays with blind pointed arch windows and diagonal clasping buttresses topped with tall crocketted finials.

The north elevation presents four bays of the nave, with a transept projecting from the outer left bay. Four broad, three-centred arched windows, each with four cusped lights and hoodmoulds, illuminate the nave. A buttress with a crowstepped gable is centrally positioned. The transept features a large three-centred arched window with Perpendicular tracery, a three-centred arched door to the outer left, a three-centred arched door to the left of the return, a window to the right, and a blocked window on the left return. A gabled block sits in the re-entrant angle between the chancel and transept on the outer left, with a bipartite window at centre and a small door to the right.

The south elevation mirrors the north, featuring four bays of the nave and a crowstepped gabled transept to the outer right with a large three-centred arched window.

The east elevation has a lower gabled chancel, dominated by a large three-centred arched window with Perpendicular tracery. Vestry and storage blocks are set in flanking re-entrant angles, each with a bipartite window in the gable and doors to the right and left respectively.

Leaded, diamond-pane windows are used throughout. The roof is covered in artificial slates, with corbelled skewputts on the transepts. Sawtooth coping defines the skews on the chancel.

Internally, the original cruciform plan remains visible, although the layout has been altered. Originally with an altar at the east end, the altar is now located in the south transept, with the organ situated in the east transept. The former nave has been blocked off at the chancel arch to create a hall, and the original west tower entrance is no longer used. Entry to the church is now through the north transept, with a glazed screen at the north end. An open timber roof is present, and the interior plaster has been removed, revealing the original rubble. Stained glass windows add colour and detail.