The BURGHER and REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of LESMAHAGOW - The present day JUBILEE HALL.

At a meeting of the Burgher Presbytery in Edinburgh on the 28th of April 1814, a petition was read from forty persons in and around Lesmahagow, requesting that a church be set up in Lesmahagow. The petition failed, in that many names contained in the petition were members of the then existent Carluke Burgher congregation. The Presbytery did however, advise those who had petitioned that their act was not legal. In order that the Presbytery might reconsider their request they must make application to the Rev. Ebenezer Dawson of Carluke for his advice and assistance in such a request and dependent on his responses, would consider their case again. Three months later the petition was renewed, and the Presbytery agreed to grant them the supply of a sermon.
In 1816 they were erected into a Congregation, with Messrs William Miller, James Greenshields and John Hogg, former elders of the Carluke congregation, were constituted into a session.
Between 1816 and 1818, the congregation at Lesmahagow made a number of applications to the Presbytery for a minister but each application was turned down. By 1818 the membership had grown at a steady rate, and in that year a further application for leave to call a minister was made. A stipend of £100 was offered, with sacramental expenses, included were a house and garden.
The Presbytery agreed, and a call to Mr John Russell, a probationer, was made, but he, having received several calls, was eventually settled by the Synod at Kirkintilloch.
During 1819, Mr William Logan was called to Lesmahagow. On this occasion the call was subscribed by 104 members and 148 adherents. Mr William Logan was ordained at Lesmahagow in March 1820. He remained in that charge for more than twenty years.
The exact date of the building of the Church is not known, but it is considered that it may have been built during, either the late 1820's or the early 1830's. (A reference to the existence of the House[Manse] and gardens as early as 1816 is noted in an article by Mr J. L. Carvel of Blackwood, published in the Hamilton Advertiser during 1925.)
In 1839 the Old Light Burger ministers were absorbed into the Church of Scotland. Of the twenty nine who did, Mr William Logan was one. After he joined the Church of Scotland he was elected as a minister of the Parish, but the patron the Duke of Hamilton, declined to present him.
(This seems a strange decision as the land on which the Manse and Church were built had belonged to the Duke of Hamilton who collected feu duties from the Church.)
His congregation held together and they continued to worship in their own building.
It is also not surprising to find that he was one of the ministers who "came out" at the disruption of 1843.
Another local minister who "came out" in 1843, was Dr. Parker the founding father of the Free or Abbeygreen Church in Lesmahagow. It was considered that Lesmahagow was to small to have two Free Churches, while some congregations had none. Accordingly, Mr William Logan of the Burger Church of Lesmahagow, was translated to Sanquhar.
Also, at this time (1843), the Free Church could not find a place of worship suitable to their needs. The North Church, where Mr Logan preached, was considered too small. The congregation of the North Church also accused Dr. Parker and his followers of seeking to deprive them of their property and in trying to remove Mr Logan.

By 1844, however, the Free Church had secured ground and built their own church and manse.
Meanwhile, there was dissension in the North Church. The congregation could not agree to a successor to Mr Logan, and as a result of this the Free Presbytery of Lanark decided to preach the vacant charge.
They also endeavoured to unite the two churches. Some of the North Church congregation would have nothing to do with this proposed union and intimated to the Presbytery at Lanark of their intention to call a minister from the Reformed Presbyterian Church. A minority of that congregation joined Dr. Parker, with the majority calling the Rev. John W. MacMeekin. Mr MacMeekin was called on the 14th of August 1846, and was ordained minister of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation at Lesmahagow on the 30th of December 1846.
The two churches maintained a separate existence until 1869, when, deeply in debt and in arrears of stipend, the congregation was dissolved. Mr MacMeekin and some of his flock joined the Established Church, others spread themselves over the other churches in the Parish. In lieu of arrears of his stipend and feu duties the Church and Manse was given over to Mr MacMeekin, who retained the Manse. The church building was rented for a short time and known as the Temperance Hall. Soon after, it was bought by Mr John B. Greenshields of Kerse, author of the "Annals of Lesmahagow, who is reported in some references, as having "built" the Jubilee Hall. This was not the case, the church building was renovated by him, although at his own personal expense. On the Ist of July 1887 it was officially gifted by him to the village with its governance placed in the hands of Trustees. As a mark of appreciation a silver trowel was presented to Mr Greenshields at the opening of the new hall. The trowel is preserved in the L.P.H.A. Archive.
1887 was also the year in which Queen Victoria celebrated her Jubilee. In view of this, the new Village Hall became known as the Jubilee Hall.

The Valuation Roll for 1891/92 records the Proprietors of the Jubilee Public Hall as being the 'Trustees of Hall', per John Loudon, grocer. The Proprietor of the Manse was Rev. James MacMeekan of Pettinain. It was tenanted by the School Board and occupied by Mr Matthew Glover M.A., Schoolmaster.
After the Second World War, the trustees asked the Second District Council to take responsibility for the Hall, but it was not until the mid-1950's that this was realised. During 1954 the Hall was completely renovated including the removal of the balcony. It was re-opened on 14th of January 1955.
At a Social Gathering in the Jubilee Hall to celebrate it's re-opening, Mr Richard McLean, Chairman of the District Council, presided. After a short dedication service by the Rev. H. F. Frame M.A. and the Rev R. B. W. Walker M. B. Ch. B. the assembled company, invited from voluntary organisations throughout the Second District, sat down to an excellent repast. Apologies for absence included Mrs Allan of Westoun, a descendant of the original owner of the Hall. In his remarks to the gathering, the Chairman gave a brief history of the building. Professor John Kirkwood, O.B.E. also gave a short address, which was in reminiscent vein as he recalled many important social functions which had taken place over the years. After the repast, Dr. John Gilmour, convener of the Local Committee compared a varied programme of local talent. The final item was a performance of the One-Act play "The Road Of Poplars, presented by Coalburn Drama Group, under the guidance of the producer, Mr John L. Sorbie.
Since 1955 until the present day, ongoing renovations and repairs by the incumbent District Council have taken place to maintain the fabric of the building, thus providing Lesmahagow (and District) with a popular venue for a variety of functions. The present District Council regards the Hall as a drain on its finances, therefore, its future teeters on the brink.

Source: Lesmahagow Parish Historical Association Publication