Dalserf Village, once a halting place on the road northwards, with, it is said, no less than 5 hostelries for the refreshment of travelers, and a ferry for the crossing of the Clyde, is now a secluded little retreat, often visited for its quiet beauty and beautiful church and churchyard. It now consists of many cottages all, which have been restored to a very high quality. The parish Church of Dalserf stands at the end of the village, at the edge on a round Holm, around which the river curves. It was built in 1655, one of that group of churches known as T churches, built as they were in that shape, the rectangular area containing a long communion table, and the vestry and belfry projecting from the side wall. In the nineteenth century, galleries and a back area were added, making the building cruciform in shape. It has long been thought that an earlier church stood in this spot, and back in 1921 confirmatory evidence seemed to be found in a large hog-backed-stone which was unearthed in the churchyard. Several architects and archaeologists held that this stone was part of a Norman church, but others have disputed this finding, and the facts of the matter are still in doubt.
Inside the Church you will find the Mauldslie Castle and Dalserf House pews at the front of the central gallery, these are reminders of the past when Lairds and retainers of he vast mansions in the valley had their own special pews for worship. These big houses have all gone now.
The first Lord Newlands of Mauldslie Castle, although not living in the parish, made Dalserf his church. He was the creator of the present village of Rosebank.
As might be expected of a parish so close to Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge, Dalserf had its quota of persecuted Covenanters. The records show that during these terrible times no fewer than 52 women and men of Dalserf are reported to have suffered sorely for their church. The only evidence of a Covenanter in the churchyard itself is the Robert Laurie gravestone, to be found opposite the belfry door.
But there is an outstanding Covenanting memorial near the main door of the church to the Rev John McMillan, from whom the Covenanters were sometimes called McMillanites. He was buried in Dalserf Churchyard in 1753 and this monument was erected over his grave some ninety years later. The inscriptions on the stone have been worn away through weathering, but the original wording is to be found in a commemorative booklet kept within the church.
