Church of St John Evangelist, Alloa, Scotland

S. JOHN EVANGELIST, ALLOA, SCOTLAND. — Mr. Withers is about to replace a poor episcopal chapel at this place with an excellent church, to be built at the sole cost of the Earl of Kellie. The plan is unusual in some respects. There is a nave 68 feet long by 23 feet broad, a chancel 28 feet by 20 feet, and a vestry on the north-west side. South of the west end of the nave is a porch, which opens westward into the street, and admits, northward, to the nave, and southward, to a detached tower. The ritual arrangements are thoroughly good, except that the rise is of six, instead of seven steps. There are stalls and sub- sellfis, with no special prayer-desks; and there is a low chancel-screen. The vestry has a transverse gable, which we do not like. And, considering the proximity of the porch, the west door to the nave seems unnecessary. The tracery is of the plate kind. The tower is a good composition, with ornate stone octagonal broach spire. But here again the belfry-stage ought to be a few feet higher, so as to clear the ridge of the nave roof. We observe some eccentricities of doors. There is a good, though rather plain, constructional reredos. A peal of six bells is to be added. The material is all local stone. [Ecclesiologist August 1867 page 247-248]

A New Episcopal church is about to be built in Alloa, Scotland. The new edifice will be of stone, and will have a tower and spire. The architect is Mr. Withers, of London. [Building News 1 February 1867 page 94]

Note: These entries are at odds with the majority of sources which name Robert Rowand Anderson as architect. Anderson was certainly exhibiting drawings of the church in 1868.