K i r k i n t i l l o c h – The green copper cladding on the front of a once-historical Baptist church in Kirkintilloch near Glasgow, Scottland raises the temperature of not a few of the city’s 35.000 inhabitants and makes headlines through the country. Pastor Ian Birch regards the excitement as overblown. “It’s like a storm in a tea cup”, he told EBPS. He is indeed very pleased that the 420-member congregation has thereby become known throughout the kingdom.

The congregation was founded in 1887; in 1951 the Church of Scotland gave it a historical church building. At the time the congregation numbered only 44 members, but it has been growing ever since. With the beginning of the new millenium, space was no longer sufficient. The old church was torn down in 2005 and a new structure begun at the same location. This building project is costing the congregation roughly 3 mil. Euros – the new main sanctuary and coffee lounge are already completed. City officials had expressed the desire for a contemporary metallic covering, so the congregation vouched for a copper cladding – and triggered a wave of virulent protests. The daily "Kirkintilloch Herald" wrote: "The old building was beautiful, with lovely stonework on the front. We now have a monstrosity which has a green roof and back and neither looks like a church nor does anything for the town."

The General-Secretary of the Scottish Baptists, Bill Slack (Glasgow), is convinced that this criticism is not representative: “Only a few verbose people made negative comments.” City officials have a similar assessment. They note tht the construction work is not yet complete. After its completion, the copper cladding will assure “a distinctive look and presence in the streetscape, as churches often have. The town centre currently has a mixture of architectural styles that are developing, and we encourage diversity." The public in general is apparently very accepting of the modern structure. The congregation’s services, which attract as many as 1.000 worshipers, are geared to the unchurched.