Greyfriars Church, Dumfries facts for kids
Greyfriars Church is a beautiful old building in Dumfries, Scotland. It's a very important historical site, known as a Category A listed building. This means it's super special! The church you see today was built a long time ago, between 1866 and 1868. It was designed by an architect named John Starforth. The church is built in the Victorian Gothic style. This style often features tall arches and fancy decorations.
The church stands proudly at the top of the High Street. It's made from local red sandstone that came from Locharbriggs Quarry. Look closely, and you'll see lots of amazing carvings. There are figures and plants around the main entrance. A local artist, William Flint, created these detailed stone artworks.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The land where Greyfriars Church stands has a long history. It has been home to several important buildings over many years.
- A Greyfriars' Convent was once nearby.
- Later, Maxwell of Nithsdale Castle stood here.
- Then came a church known as the New Kirk.
- Finally, the current Greyfriars Church was built.
The Current Church Building
The Greyfriars' Church you see today was built starting in 1866. It was constructed right where the New Kirk used to be. The New Kirk itself was built in the 1720s. It was either on or next to the site of Maxwell of Nithsdale's Castle. When workers were taking down the old walls of the New Kirk, they found some interesting carved stones. These stones were decorated and shaped in special ways.
How the Church Was Built
The Dumfries Town Council was in charge of building the new Greyfriars' Church. They looked at more than 30 different designs for the new building. These plans were shown to the public on May 10, 1865, at the Market Hall. People could come and see all the ideas! In the end, the council had to choose between designs from three architects:
- Mr. James Barbour from Dumfries.
- Mr. Edgar from London.
- Mr. John Starforth from Edinburgh.
John Starforth's design was chosen, and that's the church we see today.
Greyfriars Church Today
Since 2008, a different church group, Saint Bride’s Anglican Church, has used the building for their services. In June 2019, there were some ideas to make the church smaller. Part of the building might have been turned into apartments.
However, on December 9, 2021, St Bride's Anglican Church sold the building. They moved to a new location in Dumfries. Greyfriars Church was then bought by the Orthodox Diocese of Whithorn.
Images for kids
-
Ornate decorative stonework around front doors of Greyfriars Church, Dumfries
-
Detail of carved flowers
-
Carved female statue on Grayfriars Church, Dumfries
-
Carved statue on Grayfriars Church, Dumfries
