End of an era as Bargrennan church closes

Jun 26 2009 by Jackie Grant, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE LIGHTS went out for the final time at Bargrennan Church last Sunday following a moving and sombre service conducted by the Reverend Edward Lyons.

The church building, which was beginning to become increasingly difficult to maintain, was closed following the service which was attended by around 70 members of the congregation.

Normally around 10 people have turned out for the monthly services but this time around the congregation was boosted by many of the Penninghame Church members with the two churches being linked since January 12, 1994.

The church history goes back to 1836 when the Earl of Galloway provided the site for the building to be erected which was opened for public worship on the March 17, 1839. The first Minister who preached for five years was the Reverend Robert Somerville whose stipend was an annual payment of £50 which by today’s standards was quite a high wage. He was succeeded by the Reverend Alexander Goldie who resigned in 1847 with the next Minister appointed being the legendary Reverend John Barclay, whose connection with the congregation started in 1847, continuing until his death on April 22, 1907 - an exceptional period of 60 years.

Bargrennan Parish was initiated on July 6, 1862, with the Church previously being linked and administered by Monigaff and Penninghame Parishes.

The new Parish consisted of approximately 100 square miles and on January 29, 1863, Rev Barclay was ordained as the first Minister of the newly formed Bargrennan Parish by the Presbytery of Wigtown.

Some weeks later at the first communion service, 71 members attended the Church with the Roll of Communicants increasing to over 100 within a short time, showing how times have changed over the years to the present.

In 1874 the Churchyard was opened and extensive repairs were carried out on the Church and Manse buildings with heating being introduced.

Early in 1907 Rev Barclay applied for a successor but died before this took place and is buried outside the Church which he served for over half a Century.

On September 19, 1907, the Reverend George Muir took over the Bargrennan Parish ministry and within two years further extensive restoration of the Church took place in memory of the faithful labours of Rev Barclay and a plaque placed on the interior Church wall to mark this event.

An extract from the Dumfries and Galloway Standard dated October 30, 1909 states: “Restoration of Bargrennan Church. Bargrennan Church, near Newton Stewart, which has been undergoing extensive alterations and repair, was re-opened on Sabbath, when the service was conducted by the Rev. W. Ross, minister of St Mary's, Partick.

“A movement was set on foot some time ago to commemorate in fitting manner the ministry of the late Rev. John Barclay, who was for almost 60 years minister of Bargrennan Church.

“It was thought that no more suitable memorial could be devised than the restoration of the church with which Mr Barclay had been so long connected.

“The plans were prepared by Mr PJ. McGregor Chalmers, Glasgow. Considerable repairs have been carried out on the fabric, and the woodwork has been practically renewed.

“Other important alterations have also been carried out, and the restoration scheme has been completed by the erection of a mural tablet of Greek white marble, bearing an inscription that the entire work has been carried out in memory of Mr Barclay.”

In more modern times the congregation of Bargrennan became linked with that of Minigaff in 1962 until it became linked to Penninghame St Johns in January, 1994.

On April 22, 2001 the congregations of Bargrennan and Penninghame St Johns united as the Parish of Penninghame under the ministry of the Reverend Neil Campbell.

Although their Church is now closed, the Bargrennan congregation have much to look back on and be very proud of.