For churches with full parish status[note 1] the heritor – the local landowner (laird) or sometimes the town council – had this privilege by right of patronage, generally without consulting the congregation.
Although in Aberdeen there was no practical problem over appointments, all fifteen minsters "came out" in solidarity with parishes elsewhere and ten new free kirks were built.
[3] In Aberdeen the Disruption had been anticipated and a local committee had taken the initiative of, in April 1843, purchasing an old weaving factory which had been derelict since 1830.
In the angle formed by the nave and south transept rises a lofty square tower, from which springs a spire of airy proportions".
[note 4] The architectural style of the building was for simple lancet arches and Perpendicular Gothic windows with brick dressings.
[9] The site of the churches was to the east of the Denburn Valley, a 34-foot (10.5 m) deep gorge passing north–south through Aberdeen with buildings on both sides of it.
The tracks were laid on the east side of the valley to avoid the gardens[note 5] and the culverted Den Burn to the west.
This meant that the Denburn Road had to be shifted east so that it passed very close to, but far below, the gable end of the West Free.
The East and South churches, happy to stay put, bought back their portions for £3,000 each, hence making a profit of £1,000 each.
In 1952 John Betjeman wrote of Archibald Simpson's creation:"His greatest work is a brick tower and spire opposite the Art Gallery.
[18] In 1976 the site was purchased by a London firm of developers with a plan to retain the spire but to surround it with a shopping mall, restaurant, offices and apartments.