250th ANNIVERSARY

Kilwinning Abbey Church celebrated its 250th anniversary on Sunday November 17 with a special thanksgiving service. Local dignitaries, youth groups, community groups and former ministers joined the congregation, and the service was led by Isobel Beck DCS and Interim Moderator, the Rev James McNay.

Situated at the very centre of Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, the current church was built by John Garland and John Wright, with construction completed in 1774. It stands on the site of its 16th-century predecessor, which was itself built within the ruins of Kilwinning Abbey, founded in approximately 1188.

The service was one of thanksgiving for the church’s longstanding role in the community, and offered a reflection of its history and praise for the contribution it has made to the people and the life of the town.