in 1836 auchinairn village’s population stood at 284 compared with neighbouring bishopbriggs population which stood at 175, but the opening of the edinburgh and glasgow railway in 1842 brought new industries to the area and as a result of this, housing was required for the workers. for many years auchinairn was a vibrant community with a co-operative, a post office, several small shops, a public house, a community hall and a mission hall. the free church mission which met in that hall was granted full church status in 1865. the members built a church on springfield road, bishopbriggs. it is now part of springfield cambridge church.