Church Overview

Substantially rebuilt in 1810 by James Turner and Joseph Douglas and again from 1849-50 by architect Walter Newall, but the T-plan church, with its distinctive square tower, is very much late Georgian in design. Pulpit and precentors box date to 1810 refit, but the interior of the church was considerably re-ordered in 1949 and a partition constructed which allowed a hall to be created. The upper hall was constructed in 1968-9 and a further major refurbishment took place in 2002.

High in the north gable, above the big pointed window with Y-traceried mullions, is a circular stone heraldic panel with the coat-of-arms of William Kennedy, Abbot of Crossraguel Abbey between 1529 and 1547. Also carved in the panel is the date 1749: that of the previous church on this site. The carving on the stone appears to be two centuries earlier. This is the oldest ecclesiastical relic in the parish. Before that time the site of the church was at Minnydow, prominent on a high field now marked by a small circle of trees enclosed within a dry stone wall. It is probable that a church was on this site in the 13th century.

On the back wall to the left as you leave is a simple wooden plaque commemorating the Rev Gabriel Semple, first of the Covenanter field preachers, and his friend John Neilson. There is also a notable table memorial stone in the kirkyard for Neilson’s widow Mary McLellan who died in 1697, which also records details of Neilson’s execution in 1666.

Today the church is linked with Auchencairn Kirk and Castle Douglas Parish Church and the group are known as Carlingwark Parish Churches.

Services

Sunday 9.30 or 11.00 am except 1st Sunday of the month

Opening Arrangements

Open by arrangement

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.