Greyfriars Church, Dumfries facts for kids
Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Scotland, is a very old and important building. It is known as a Category A listed building, which means it's a special historical place. The church you see today was built between 1866 and 1868. It was designed by an architect named John Starforth in the Victorian Gothic style. This means it looks like old castles and cathedrals, with pointed arches and fancy decorations.
The church is made from red sandstone found nearby at Locharbriggs Quarry. You can see many beautiful carvings on the building, like figures and plants, especially around the main door. A local artist named William Flint is thought to have created these amazing stone artworks. A very important historical event happened here in 1306, involving Robert the Bruce and John Comyn.
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History of Greyfriars Church Buildings
The area where Greyfriars Church stands has been home to several important buildings over many years. These buildings tell a long story of Dumfries.
- Greyfriars' Convent (a religious building)
- Maxwell of Nithsdale Castle (a strong fortress)
- New Kirk (an earlier church)
- The Current Church Building (built in the 1860s)
From Old Buildings to New Kirk
Before the current church, there was a building called the New Kirk. It was built in the 1720s. This New Kirk was located on or very close to where Maxwell of Nithsdale’s Castle once stood. When the New Kirk was taken down, workers found many old, decorated stones. These stones were likely from the much older castle or other ancient structures.
Building the Current Greyfriars Church
In the 1860s, the leaders of Dumfries decided to build a new church. They wanted it to be called Greyfriars'. They looked at more than 30 different designs for the new building. These plans were shown to the public in May 1865.
Choosing the Architect
After looking at all the ideas, the final choice came down to designs from three architects:
- Mr. James Barbour from Dumfries
- Mr. Edgar from London
- Mr. John Starforth from Edinburgh
In the end, John Starforth's design was chosen. His vision created the beautiful Victorian Gothic church we see today.
Greyfriars Church Today
For many years, starting in 2008, Saint Bride’s Anglican Church used the Greyfriars building for their services. However, things changed for the church in recent years.
Recent Changes to the Church
On December 9, 2021, St Bride's Anglican Church sold the building. They then moved to a different location in Dumfries. Greyfriars Church was bought by the Orthodox Diocese of Whithorn. This means it is now used by a different Christian group.
Images for kids
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Ornate decorative stonework around the front doors of Greyfriars Church
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Detail of carved flowers in red sandstone
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Carved female statue on Greyfriars Church
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Carved statue on Greyfriars Church
