Applegarth, Sibbaldie and Johnstone Church
Denomination: Former Church of Scotland,
Now owned by a community trust
Address: Applegarth, DG11 1SX
Local Authority: Dumfries & Galloway
Listing: B
Church Overview
The earliest documentary mention of a church on this site dates from 1140. The current white-harled, T-plan kirk was built 1762-63 by local stonemason Francis Patterson and wright James Bretton, with some considerable remodelling in 1884-85 by architect Frank James Chambers Carruthers
The Victorian refurbishment saw the installation of the two striking rose windows on opposite gables, much of the Gothic detailing around the building and the interior as it is configured today. The two stained glass windows that flank the pulpit, depicting Christ blessing a knight and the Ascension, were placed in the building as a war memorial in July 1921 at the same time as a bronze memorial tablet inside the building and a stone monument outside.
Attached to the church’s south east corner is the exceptional late 17th century burial enclosure of the Jardine family. Further members of this local clan are found in the adjacent graveyard, which houses some remarkable late 18th century monuments adorned with memento-mori carvings.
The building was until recently known as Applegarth, Sibbaldie and Johnstone Church. Applegarth and Sibbaldie parishes united together in 1609, with Johnstone not joining the pair until almost four centuries later, in 2004. The church was closed and marketed for sale by the Church of Scotland in March 2025, during a period when the denomination was radically reducing its national portfolio of properties.
Members of the local community and the international Jardine Clan Society came together to form the Friends of Applegarth Church and raised the purchase price required to take the building into their care. The keys were handed over at a ceremony to mark the occasion on St Andrew’s Day 2025.
Service Times
To be confirmed.
Opening Times
To be confirmed.
Image Gallery
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Applegarth, Sibbaldie and Johnstone Church
Disclaimer
The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.