Editing Strathaven (section)

== Religion ==

Strathaven contains six churches<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/towns/s/strathaven.html|title=The Churches of Britain and Ireland - Strathaven|website=www.churches-uk-ireland.org|access-date=27 April 2014|archive-date=28 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428002756/http://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/towns/s/strathaven.html|url-status=live}}</ref> including three Church of Scotland parishes: Avendale Old (built in 1772) linked with Drumclog Parish Church,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avendale-drumclog.com/|title=Avendale & Drumclog Parish Church|website=www.avendale-drumclog.com|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=26 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126153041/https://avendale-drumclog.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Strathaven Rankin linked with Chapelton Parish Church,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rankinandchapelton.wikidot.com/ |title=Welcome - Strathaven Rankin & Chapelton |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728013711/http://rankinandchapelton.wikidot.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and East Parish Church (built in 1777) linked with Glassford Parish Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/east-parish-church-strathaven/|title=East Parish Church, Strathaven|date=24 September 2017|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=9 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309081640/https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/east-parish-church-strathaven|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Strathaven East Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 4571749.jpg|thumb|The former East Parish Church]]
The town's only [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] church is St Patrick's Catholic Church. The Parish was founded in 1859 to serve the growing Catholic population of Avondale following migration from Highland and Irish communities following the [[Highland Clearances|Clearances]] and the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]]. The current church building was constructed in 1901, paid for by then Archbishop [[Charles Eyre (bishop)|Charles Eyre]]. The older, original church building now serves as the parish hall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=sct-admin |date=2017-09-24 |title=St Patrick's Church, Strathaven |url=https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/st-patricks-church-strathaven/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Scotlands Churches Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The ecumenical body "Hope Strathaven" consists of six churches in the area, which work together bringing a mix of community projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hopestrathaven.co.uk/the-strathaven-churches.php |title=The Strathaven Churches |access-date=2013-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825145924/http://hopestrathaven.co.uk/the-strathaven-churches.php |archive-date=25 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The Rt Rev Dr [[Shaw Paterson]], minister at Strathaven Trinity Parish Church of Scotland, was elected to be [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] for 2024-2025.