A brief history of St Anthony's Church
The building of the chapel in Balfron began around 1867, when it was described as being 'in an advanced state'. Prior to that, the small group of Catholics had held their services in the old weaver's shop at the top of the village. These services had begun at the time of industrialisation, when new mill workers had come into the village.
The arrival of pipeline workers, many from Ireland, swelled the community during the construction of the aqueduct from Loch Katrine to Glasgow, leading to a demand for a more permanent place of worship.
A small parcel of land was purchased in Dunmore Street, then called Laigh Road, by Mrs Cooper, the wife of the owner of Ballindalloch. She was, herself, an Irish Catholic from County Wexford.
The 'very neat little chapel' was complete by 1869, thanks to 'the zeal of a member of the congregation' (Mrs Cooper) and other benefactors, some of whose crests and arms were included in the design of the stained glass windows.
Father F.X. Archibald has attended the village every alternates month prior to the construction of the chapel. St Anthony's was then served from Milngavie as part of the Archdiocese of Glasgow until 1889, when it was transferred to St Andrews and Edinburgh, and served from Lennoxtown.
Today, the church shares a priest with St Kessog's in Blanefield.