Thomas Baldwin reports on a long-term fundraising project initiated by a rural congregation.

DUNSCORE Church near Dumfries was packed on Sunday October 1 for a service, led by the Rev Jannie du Plessis, to celebrate the reopening and rededication of the church building that had been closed for a year.

The event, followed by a concert by a local choir, marked the end of a journey which started with the winter storms of 2013 which caused significant damage.

Investigation indicated that major repairs were required and the cost was well beyond the means of the congregation.

As well as the repairs, the congregation decided to take the opportunity to make the building more welcoming and more flexible for alternative uses.

Successful applications were made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding organisations, and with fundraising events £200,000 was raised.

The project was supported by the Church of Scotland General Trustees and the Presbytery of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright.

The repairs started early this year and were led by the architect and a local building firm. As well as the repairs needed some damaged structures were uncovered and remedied.

The project included construction of a new heritage centre, staffed by volunteers, including information on the history of the village and church and also on Jane Haining, the Scottish missionary who died in Auschwitz, who was born locally.

Minister, the Rev Jannie du Plessis, said: “We are delighted by the transformation of our church building and pleased to have been able to share this with so many friends at our celebratory service.

“We now have a warm, dry and comfortable worship space that is suitable for all manner of services whether traditional or less formal and we also now have a suitable area for children during services.

“We extend a very warm invitation to join us at future services in our beautiful church”.

Session Clerk, Colin Mitchell said: “It is amazing that over three years of very hard work is now coming to such a wonderful conclusion.

“When we discovered the extent of the damage to the building, we had no idea how big a job it would be. We are thrilled by the outcome and the work undertaken has been to a very high standard and has enhanced the internal architecture of the church.

“In addition to a weatherproof building, we have a much improved interior space and the heritage centre will be wonderful addition to the life of the village.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors both to our church services and to the heritage centre”.

Dunscore has a Christian history going back to the 12th century. There has been a church on its present site since 1649, and the current building dates to 1823.

It is associated with the Covenanters – its minister, the Rev Robert Archibald, was one of those expelled from his charge in 1663.

Jane Haining was also born and brought up in Dunscore.

She worshipped in the Craig Free Church, but went on to be employed by the Church of Scotland as Matron of the Girls Home in the Budapest Mission.

The new Dunscore Church

Refusing to leave the Jewish girls in her care, she was arrested by the Nazis in 1944. There is a plaque and medal to her memory in the west wall of the parish church.