Kirkcudbright Parish Church

The church, originally called St Cuthberts parish church, was built between 1836 and 1838, in spacious grounds donated by the Earl of Selkirk in the centre of the Royal Burgh of Kirkcudbright. It is a large building, built of red sandstone, in crucifix form and Gothic/Tudor style, intended to seat 1,500 people. The architect was William Burns, who designed over 300 public buildings including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern art in Edinburgh.

In 1886 the building was extended to the west to accommodate the new vestry and organ. This pipe organ, made by Harrison and Harrison of Durham, is still in place, and form one of the main visual features of the church interior. In the early 20th century, a stained glass window was installed in memory of previous minister, Revd Alexander Hamilton (1879-1913). It was by William Meikle and portrays Jesus the Good Shepherd. In front of the organ pipes is a striking double-decker pulpit, the lower box intended for the Precentor, who led the singing, before the installation of the organ.

There are three galleries. To the south is the Town Gallery, originally occupied by town councillors and magistrates, to the north is the Trades Gallery, and to the east is the Country Gallery, originally occupied by the Earl of Selkirk and family, servants and tenants. Until quite recently, the current laird, Sir David Hope-Dunbar and his family still used the Country Gallery.

In front of the pulpit sits a large oak communion table, unveiled in 1921 in memory of local people who died in World War One. The names of those who died in World War Two were added later. The first minister, in 1838, was Revd John McMillan. When the Church of Scotland split in the Disruption of 1843, he left to become minister of Kirkcudbright Free Church, later to become St Marys Church. Happily, the congregations of St Cuthbert's and St Mary's re-united in 1983 to form Kirkcudbright Parish Church.