This early picture of the Hall taken from a 1905 postcard  shows the Abbot Adams Bridge, originally built in 1439.  The bridge is named after Adam Spark, who was the abbot of Kilwinning Abbey at that time who had to obtain permission from the Vatican before it could be built.  The bridge was later widened in 1857  to allow for increased traffic and heavier loads.

The Gospel Hall can just be seen on the extreme right of the picture and shows a building between the Hall and the river and  occupying the space that now forms the car park in the present day.

The details of this record were taken from the original cash book used by the assembly. The Assembly in Bridgend Gospel Hall, Kilwinning was originally set up in Kilwinning on 13 September 1874. The brethren in Kilwinning met in Greenfoot School to break bread for the first time. The meeting commenced at 12 noon. The names of those present on that first Lord's Day were, Thomas Downs, John Fulton, Matthew Richmond, and John Verrier.

Reference is made in the early records to a visit from Peter Hynd of Troon who, it is understood, was previously in fellowship with the believers who met in Loan Hall, Stevenston.

The testimony commenced by these faithful men over one hundred years ago still continues today in the little hall by the riverside seeking to maintain scriptural principles and engage in various assembly activities. An entry in the cash book dated 7 October of the same year records a meeting convened for the purpose of appointing brethren to perform 'the little necessities of the church' and records John Fulton to look after the wine, bread and covers. John Verrier to be secretary and Edward Mathieson to be treasurer. There is also reference to meetings held by the same brethren in the old Temperance Hall in the following year of 1875 and to meetings conducted in the Corsehill School from Lord's Day 23 June 1878. Meanwhile the numbers were growing as more believers were being added. Further details are then lacking for several years, from approximately 1880 to 1892.

 On 11 September 1891 Mr Howie's sister Margaret was born. Her father approached Mr Charlton, at that time the minister of the Free Church, later known as the Mansfield Church, with a view to having the young child christened. The Spirit of God used this occasion to the conversion of Mr Howie's father and mother. There followed a number of conversions including Hugh Dunlop, Duncan Currie, Dugald Baird, and William McCallum the draper (great grandfather of William McCallum the draper in Howgate), William Strain, uncle of William Hodge was also saved at that time along with many womenfolk.

 They soon learned the truth of believer's baptism and it was arranged that the men be baptised in the sea at Stevenston and the women in the burn near the bridge, where there was a suitable deep section of water. Exercised about remembering the Lord in the breaking of bread, they rented an empty 'single end' dwelling house across from the Old Abbey in The Green. This was their first hall. It was around August 1892 and there they worshipped the Lord for some three years. They then contacted Hugh Richmond who met with others in a hall in  Fergushill Road. It was agreed that they should unite and serve the Lord from that place.

 The present Bridgend Hall, built by Mr Burns, a banker, for the Ayrshire Christian Union eventually came to be used as the gathering place of the assembly. The following names will strike a chord with some local people: R Allison, R Strachan, E Docherty, H Richmond, William McCallum, Gibby Speirs, Andrew Thomson, David Annals, William Howie, and Willie Hodge.