The present building was completed and opened on May 1899 as the United Presbyterian Church of Gardenstown. There was a Church of Scotland in the village, known as "The Mohr Church". This was built in 1876.

In 1874 Jacob Primmer came to Gardenstown to assist the Parish Minister the Rev James Cruden. At this time there was no Church of Scotland in the village, the congregation of Gardenstown and Crovie met for worship in a granary. Mr. Primmer encouraged the people to build a church, and with the help of the fishermen, a building to seat 400 was completed within a year. On a Sunday evening this would be filled to capacity. Sankey-Moody were in Scotland holding revival meetings and seeing much blessing, Mr. Primmer felt that meetings of this kind would be good in the village. He contacted the Rev John Gilmour, Minister of the U.P. Church who was also keen on such an effort. It was agreed to hold them one night in the U.P. Church and the next in "The Mohr Church". The result being that many people both young and old came to faith in Christ. This was a great time of blessing.

In 1897 the old UP. Church was in need of major repairs, but also was quite inadequate for the needs of the congregation, and so it was decided to build a new church. This was started in 1898. Completed and opened on May 1899 at a total cost of £1,342 12s

The bell of the old church was unsuitable, and after some investigation a firm in Derby was found to have a suitable one weighing 125 lbs. Price £5.10 + 8/6 carriage. It was agreed to purchase same but to make an initial offer of £4. If this was not accepted then to pay full asking price.

In the year 1900 the Kirk Session of the UP. Church considered a remit from Synod proposing union with the Free Church of Scotland. This proposal was adopted and so the Church became the United Free Church of Gardenstown. Regarding membership, at a communion service October 1900, 132 members participated, this was considered a good attendance.

Rev A T Ogilvie, who was Minister at this time, resigned in 1903 leaving the Church vacant. After a short vacancy the Rev John Munro received and accepted a call to Gardenstown. He was Minister until 1913 when he moved to another charge. There were six applicants for the vacant charge and after hearing all six preach the Rev John Goudie was selected to be their Minister. He stayed for only three years.

In 1916 the Church was again vacant. The interim Moderator was the Rev William Ross and for some reason the vacancy committee wished to call him to be Minster of Gardenstown U.F. Church. Having made their wish known to him, he prayerfully considered the invitation. The result being in due course he was inducted to the charge.

Little has been said about the spiritual life of the congregation at this time, but in 1921 during the East Anglia Herring Fishing, revival broke out there and many of the fishermen came to faith in Christ. When they returned home the Holy Spirit began to move in the village, and for the next year there was a time of spiritual awakening. This was evidenced in the fact that on December 1921, 30 new members were added to the Church by profession of faith.

From 1916 the U.F. Church in the village was linked with the Free Church in the parish under one Minister. Some of the old people in the village can still remember walking the three to four miles return journey to worship in the Parish Church.

Mr. Ross ministered faithfully until 1926. After a short vacancy the Rev Thomas Shanks was inducted as Minister. He stayed for only four years and in 1930 resigned from the charge.

Around 1930 there was discussion about linking the two churches in the village and eventually in 1932 the two congregations joined and became Gardenstown Church of Scotland. It was also agreed to worship in the former U.F. Church, being the best building of the two. From then on "The Mohr Church" was little used and eventually was sold to the Christian Brethren for the sum of £300.

In 1932 a call was addressed to the Rev I D Wallace, who became Minister of the joint churches. Mr. Wallace was Minister until 1949. The membership had now risen to 220, but during the late 30's and early 40's fell back to 180 mainly because a number of people had left to worship with the Brethren, which movement was growing steadily at this time.

In 1949 the Rev James Philip of Bucksburn was inducted to the vacant charge. Over the next number of years there was steady growth in the Church, especially among the younger people. This was due to the faithful and dedicated ministry of the new pastor, but also to the fact that in years prior to this, when there was a dearth in the congregation, a number of the older people, mainly ladies, met regularly to pray that God would do a work among the young people of the community, and God was faithful in answering their prayer. With the influx of new members the church grew, not only numerically, but spiritually, as Mr. Philips ministry spoke of total commitment to Jesus Christ encouraging, especially young Christians to be involved in the work of Evangelism. Mr. Philip stayed until 1958 when he received a call from Holyrood Abbey Church, Edinburgh.

The next year or so was a very unsettled time in the Church's history. In 1959 the Rev Roderick Stewart was inducted as Minister. Although an able preacher he did not seem to settle in Gardenstown and after a short ministry resigned at the end of 1960.

In June 1961 Rev Silvester Skinner was inducted and once again the Church enjoyed a settled period, he stayed in Gardenstown until 1971, when he accepted a call to Lumphanan C. of S. As mentioned Mr. Skinner's ministry was a very settled time for the fellowship. Although their was nothing spectacular happening his ministry was a Bible centred one, delivered by someone who was a very godly and gracious man.

After quite a long vacancy the Rev Andrew Shaw was inducted on December 1972. Mr. Shaw settled in well with his wife Margaret, who was a school teacher, and immediately received a post in the local school. They also had two young daughters. Mrs. Shaw became involved in Sunday School work and became Superintendent, a post she held with great dedication and efficiency.

About this time there was a good work going on among the teenagers who met on a Friday evening in the Church Hall and many of them made a commitment to Christ. Mr. Shaw continued in Gardenstown for thirteen years but had to resign because of failing health. He was a gifted man with a sharp intellect but the thing that stood out was his Pastoral Ministry, especially among the older people in the fellowship.

Once again the Gardenstown Church was vacant. One of the problems facing the congregation was the fact that with only 110 members and 40 adherents there was the possibility of being linked with one of the neighbouring churches.

The Union and Readjustment Committee from Presbytery visited Gardenstown, suggesting the possibility of a link. The people of the congregation made it clear that this was something they did not want and gave reasons to substantiate same. The committee accepted the case raised by the congregation but said it would have to be cleared by Presbytery. This was duly done, the result being Gardenstown was free to call a Minister without restriction.

In 1986 Rev Robert M Walker became Minister of Gardenstown Church. Mr. Walker was a very gifted and able young man, totally committed to the work and in due course this bore its fruit with many young people being converted and added to the Church. For a number of years the toilet facilities at the Church were found to be inadequate especially when there was special services like conferences or socials at which tea was served. The Congregational Board had discussed the matter on many occasions and even looked at the cost of providing same. After much discussion and deliberation, the general feeling seemed to be that a complete extension be built on to the west end of the church. This would provide not only toilets but extra Sunday School rooms on Church level and also toilets, a new kitchen, and an extension to the hall on ground floor level. This was built and completed spring 1990 at a cost of approximately £120,000. £80,000 of the cost was donated by the congregation, the remainder was met by grant and loan and in a very short period of time the total cost had been cleared.

Mr. Walker laboured for nine years in Gardenstown, but it became obvious during the last years of his Ministry, many things that were being allowed to happen at Presbytery and Assembly level did not meet with his approval. What he wanted to do was for the Gardenstown congregation to withdraw from the Church of Scotland and link up with some other Christian body such as F.I.E.C. He demitted his charge. Two of the elders resigned and quite a number of the members left the fellowship. In the space of a week they had formed an independent fellowship in the village.

Once again the church was vacant with a very depleted congregation. Approximately 65 members — 20 adherents. What was to happen to such a small company? There followed a visit from the U.& R. Committee of Presbytery to discuss the situation and again suggestion was made that there be a linking with a neighbouring church. The feeling of the congregation was that if at all possible Gardenstown should have a Minister of its own. The U.& R. committee was notified and after further discussion Gardenstown was given permission to call its own Minister albeit on basis of a terminable tenure. This simply meant that the position of the congregation be reconsidered after five years. The interim moderator had suggested to the vacancy committee the possibility of a locum.

Rev Donald N Martin a Minster who had finished training became the new Minister of the congregation being ordained and Inducted on the 31st May 1996. During the first two years of this ministry the numbers coming remained steady, but lately the congregation has begun to grow again. There has been a consciousness of God's presence, and also a closer relationship among those of the fellowship. Moving into the New Millennium the attendance has now increased two fold, and it is unusual to see less than 100 attending on a Sunday Evening and almost as many in the morning.

So then as we face the future, and reflect on God's leading and guiding over the past 100 years, we look forward in faith trusting that He who has guided in the past will continue to do so as we face the future, whatever it holds.