One era came to an end and a new one began as Ardwell Church held its last Church of Scotland service.
The 114-year-old church, now being run as a Trust, has been renamed Ardwell Community Kirk and is available for community events. It is planned to hold evening services once a month during the summer and for the Kirk to continue to be a popular venue for weddings, which can now be of a religious or secular nature.
Around 100 people attended the emotional final service, which had been devised by The Rev. Chris Wallace, the Minister for the joint parishes of Stoneykirk and Kirkmaiden. It included special performances by the Ardwell Choir and percussionist Jack Dunn and, followingthe handover of the church keys, the congregation sang the final hymn “The day thou gavest lord has ended.”
The Ardwell Choir sing “The Lord’s My Shepherd.”
The Minister also made a special presentation on behalf of the Church of Scotland to Phemie McCaig, who runs the Ardwell Choir and has served the Ardwell Sunday School for more than 50 years.
After the Church of Scotland took the decision two years ago to stop having services at Ardwell, Stoneykirk Parish appointed four Trustees – Margaret Wright, Chris and Aileen Brewis and Dr Gordon Baird with Rhona McCulloch as Secretary. A Management Committee to deal with the day-to-day running has since been set up under the chairmanship of Alex Cairns.
A vote was taken at the church last summer to confirm the setting up of the Trust and a Trust document was agreed with the Church of Scotland which states that the Trust’s main objective is “to ensure that enough funds are raised each year to enable Ardwell Kirk to continue to be used by the communities of Stoneykirk Parish, principally the villages of Ardwell and Sandhead. As the most attractive and historic church in the parish, we are committed to preserving the building so it can continue to be used by the community in the future.
The Clerk to the Parish Board, Robin Clarke, hands over the Kirk keys to Trustees Chris and Aileen Brewis and Margaret Wright.
“As well as services in the church such as weddings and funerals and naming ceremonies the Trustees shall make the church available for wider community uses such as musical recitals and concerts. While not necessarily of a religious nature all events would be respectful of the nature and character of the building.” Other events such as a flower festival are planned and there will also be a Friends group to help with funding.
The Church was built by Sir Mark and Lady Mactaggart Stewart in 1902 with sandstone from Hexham in Northumberland, which was brought by train to Dunragit and moved to Ardwell by horse and cart. Until then church services were conducted in an iron building known as the Tin Tabernacle.
During the day there was a display of memorabilia in the church. This included the original plans of the church, pictures of everyone who had attended the Sunday School since the 1940s, old photos including one of a visit by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland and an 1898 application form requesting a grant from the Baird Charitable Trust.