A truly grand, old-fashioned ring of 8 bells, now sadly out of use.
St James church is a large early French Gothic-style to a design by Hippolyte Blanc, largely gifted by Sir Peter Coats in 1884. The 200-foot spire housed a heavy ring of 8. The bellringers of Paisley, along with those of St Mary, Edinburgh, were influential in the early history of Scottish ringing.
The church was declared redundant in 2015, and was closed altogether by May 2016. The Scottish Association, with the help of the Keltek Trust, had made arrangements for the removal of the bells, with the aim of relocating them. Unfortunately, it was decided to close the Church with the bells inside, as it was felt that there was a chance to sell it as a church building, and that the bells would be an asset to that. Notwithstanding the clear value the Church of Scotland has placed on the bells, this has put this ring out of reach for the forseeable future.
The Scottish Association is continuing to lobby for the removal of the bells, so that they can be rung again.