Dunscore Old Kirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunscore Old Kirk |
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| Dunscore Old Kirk and burial ground | |
General view of Dunscore Old Kirk burial ground
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| OS grid reference | NX 92661 83241 |
| Location | Merkland, Dumfries and Galloway |
| Country |  Scotland |
| Denomination | Protestant |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Kirk of Dunscore |
| Status | Replaced by Dunscore Kirk |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Events | Significant links with Robert Burns |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cemetery in use in 2000 |
| Heritage designation | Category B listed |
| Closed | 1645 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Dressed red sandstone and rubble |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dunscore |
Dunscore Old Kirk was an ancient church in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It was located on a small hill near Merkland, not far from Auldgirth. People used to call it the Kirk of Dunscore. Today, you won't see any church buildings there, but the old churchyard is still used for burials by local families.
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The Old Church's Story
Around the year 1170, a Norman lord first built a place of worship here. The land was given to Holywood Abbey by Cistercian monks from Melrose. These monks helped the area grow by improving farming and raising animals.
The church was first mentioned in records around 1257. It was also shown on an old map by Timothy Pont from about 1600. By 1645, the church building was in very bad shape. It was also far away from most people in the parish. So, everyone decided to build a brand new church in what is now the village of Dunscore.
The Old Kirk Burial Ground
The old churchyard is a rectangular area in the fields. An old map from 1855 shows a path leading up to it. The area is now surrounded by a strong stone wall. In 1855, trees were shown all around the cemetery.
The biggest building inside is a mausoleum for the Ferguson family from nearby Isle Tower. A mausoleum is a special building where people are buried. Many of the larger burial plots still have old cast iron railings around them. These railings were often removed during World War II, but they stayed safe in this quiet spot.
Robert Burns' Connections
The burial ground is linked to the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. This is because the tomb of Robert Riddell of Glenriddell is here. Robert Burns and his family lived at nearby Ellisland Farm from 1788 to 1791. For some years, Burns was good friends with Robert Riddell. Burns even used a quiet writing spot called the 'Hermitage' at Glenriddell House. Their friendship ended because of something Burns did. Sadly, Robert Riddell passed away before they could become friends again.
'Cruel Lag' and the Covenanters
Dunscore Old Kirk burial ground also has a memorial connected to the Covenanters. This is the memorial for Sir Robert Grierson, who was known as 'Cruel Lag'. He was known for persecuting, or treating badly, local people who followed the Covenant. The memorial for Sir Robert Grierson is against the back wall of the Ferguson family's mausoleum. The stone shows the Grierson family's coat of arms. It says Sir Robert Grierson died in 1733. The oldest Grierson memorial here is from 1656.
The remains of Lag Tower, an old 16th-century tower, are located elsewhere. This tower used to belong to the Grierson family.
The New Kirk
In 1649, people asked the Scottish Parliament to move the church to its current spot in Dunscore. The old church was so ruined that people were afraid to go there for worship. James Grierson gave the land for the new church. It was built where the current Dunscore Kirk stands today, though that building has been rebuilt since. The village of Dunscore was called Cottack at that time.
An old copper baptismal font was moved from the old Kirk. It was hidden in one of the walls of the new church. In 1923, the font was taken out of the wall and placed on its stand. Another old piece is a carved red sandstone block from 1649. It has the words "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts to me" carved on it.
See also
