The older congregation originally met in a building at Back o’ Barns, and was founded (1807) under the guidance of the Reverend Greville Ewing, who was instrumental in founding many such independent churches in Scotland, and also the Scottish Congregational College.
Due to a theological dispute a small number of members left that congregation and formed a church which eventually met in South Park Road.
David Livingstone’s family used to walk from the mill house at Blantyre to Hamilton every Sunday to attend the Church.
It is said that Mrs. Livingstone was so independent that they carried not only their own lunch, but also tea, sugar and also salt, so that the only hospitality that they required was boiling water.
The David Livingstone Centre, at Blantyre, records much of his missionary work, as well as preserving the room in which he was brought up.