Stranraer Parish Church Stranraer Dumfries and Galloway
DG9 0AAWe found 5 more Church of Scotland churches near Stranraer
- Church of Scotland churches in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
- Church of Scotland churches in Dumfries and Galloway
- Church of Scotland churches in United Kingdom
- Church of Scotland churches near me
- All churches in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
Who we are
Stranraer Parish Church was formed following a union of Trinity and High Kirk Churches in 2020.
Welcome to the High Kirk of Stranraer, a Church of Scotland Parish. Our Kirk is set on the hill above Stranraer, overlooking Loch Ryan.
The High Kirk of Stranraer is an active kirk, with a number of groups established by our parishioners. We hold regular meetings – in our community hall – of our Senior Members’ Club, Sunday Kids’ Club, a Summer Kids’ Club and our High Kirk Guild.
We have a service every Sunday morning at 11am and also host weddings, Christenings, funerals, thanksgivings and seasonal services throughout the year.
The local community and visitors are most welcome and we would love to see you at any of our services or other events.
The High Kirk of Stranraer – The Church on the Hill with the Community at its Heart.
Welcome to the High Kirk of Stranraer, a Church of Scotland Parish. Our Kirk is set on the hill above Stranraer, overlooking Loch Ryan.
The High Kirk of Stranraer is an active kirk, with a number of groups established by our parishioners. We hold regular meetings – in our community hall – of our Senior Members’ Club, Sunday Kids’ Club, a Summer Kids’ Club and our High Kirk Guild.
We have a service every Sunday morning at 11am and also host weddings, Christenings, funerals, thanksgivings and seasonal services throughout the year.
The local community and visitors are most welcome and we would love to see you at any of our services or other events.
The High Kirk of Stranraer – The Church on the Hill with the Community at its Heart.
Street Address
Leswalt High Road
High Kirk
Stranraer,
Dumfries and Galloway
DG9 0AA
High Kirk
United Kingdom
Phone: 01776 700867
Download Stranraer Parish Church vCard with Service Times
Click here to contact the church
Church Pastor
Rev. Andy Muir
Minister
Leswalt High Road
High Kirk
Stranraer,
Dumfries and Galloway
DG9 0AA
High Kirk
United Kingdom
Phone: 01776 700867
Download Minister Rev. Andy Muir vCard
Click here to contact Rev. Andy Muir
Denomination
Church of Scotland
Affiliations
Church Website
Stranraer Parish Church on Social Media
Facebook Video: Stranraer Parish Church Facebook Video
Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. Andy Muir
Leader Position:
Minister
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Rev. Andy Muir
Leader Bio:
Rev. Andy Muir on Social Media:
Other Church Leaders:
Leadership Photos
Rev. Andy Muir
Add a Photo
Administration
Admin Name:
Mrs. L. McCandlish
Admin Position:
Session Clerk
Admin Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Mrs. L. McCandlish
Mailing Address
Driving Directions
Travel/Direction Tips
Know how to get there? Share the knowledge with others!
Parking
Please share parking information and/or parking experience!
Stranraer Parish Church Service Times
Sunday Worship at 11.00am
It's been more than a year since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
It's been more than a year since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
PRINT
ZOOM
ICAL
SUBSCRIBE
Worship Languages
Dress Code
Sunday School / Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities
Other activities & ministries
Our Church Groups meet as follows:
Tuesday Tots – on Tuesdays from 9.15am to 11.00am in the Hall.
Senior Members – every second Wednesday at 2.30pm from September to May.
Guild – first Monday of the month at 7.00pm from September to May.
Knit and Natter – every Tuesday at 2.00pm in the West Room.
Tuesday Tots – on Tuesdays from 9.15am to 11.00am in the Hall.
Senior Members – every second Wednesday at 2.30pm from September to May.
Guild – first Monday of the month at 7.00pm from September to May.
Knit and Natter – every Tuesday at 2.00pm in the West Room.
Special Needs/Accessibility
Prayers and Hymns
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
Parish Church Stranraer Photos
Stranraer Parish Church - Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
Stranraer Parish Church - Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
High Kirk Guild Flower Festival
The Pastoral Care Group from the High Kirk holding their Christmas Service at Belmont Care Home
Harvest Thanksgiving Stranraer Parish Church
2018 Tots Christmas Party with Santa
Add a photo
Stranraer Parish Church History
Today Stranraer Parish Church is one congregation, formed from the union of the High Kirk and Trinity Church. This page gives a brief history of the Church of Scotland in Stranraer.
Christianity in Wigtownshire has a long history. It begins with St Ninian, the first great missionary to the South-West of Scotland, who was based at Whithorn in the early Fifth Century. From that small beginning the Church grew and spread throughout the county.
In the Fifteenth Century the Reformation came to the Scottish Church and Presbyterianism was established. At this time there was a chapel beside the Castle of St John, this has long gone. It was replaced by Stranraer Parish Church, still standing on Church Street.
The next notable period in the Church history of Wigtownshire came in the Seventeenth Century. A dispute arose between the King and the Church. The King wanted Scotland to change from presbyterian church government to episcopacy. The Covenanters stood against the King and many were martyred, including the two Mary’s at Wigtown and Richard Cameron the minister of New Luce. Many in Stranraer supported the Covenanters. With Presbyterianism re-established in Scotland the Church had a settled period till the Eighteenth Century.
Patronage was to bring much division within Stranraer Parish and across Scotland. When a new minister was to be appointed to a Parish Church, patronage meant the local laird or lairds, that is landowners, appointed the minister. Many opposed such patronage, they wanted the Church members to be allowed a say in the choice of new minister. This lead to a number of break away Churches; Secession Church, Relief Church and finally in the Disruption of 1843 when a large proportion of ministers and church members left to form the Free Church. Stranraer had more than one of each of these breakaway churches.
In early Nineteenth Century the Church of Scotland decided that the growing population of Stranraer required the formation of a new parish. A Chapel of Ease was established in the early century which later became Sheuchan Parish Church, today’s High Kirk.
In the 1850’s the Church of Scotland brought an end to patronage bringing about the beginning of denominational reunion in Scotland. The Secession Church united with the Relief Church in 1847 to form the United Presbyterian Church. Later this new Church united with the Free Church to form the United Free Church in 1900. The United Free Church returned to the Church of Scotland in 1929.
Stranraer Churches which have come together to today form Stranraer Parish Church are listed below.
High Kirk: a union of Sheuchan Church, St. Margarets Church (a former United Free Church which was previously Sheuchan Free Church).
Trinity Church: former names Ivy Place Church, St Andrew’s Church, Town Church.
Ivy Place was a Secession Church then United Presbyterian before becoming St. Andrew’s United Free Church and joining the Church of Scotland in 1929.
Other former United Free Churches joined Trinity over the years: St Mark’s Church (now the Gospel Hall, originally a Free Church) and St Ninian’s Church ( originally a Secession Church then United Presbyterian)
There was also an Original Secession Church ( now the Masonic Hall) which was dissolved in 1922, allowing its members join whichever alternative church they wished.
In the Fifteenth Century the Reformation came to the Scottish Church and Presbyterianism was established. At this time there was a chapel beside the Castle of St John, this has long gone. It was replaced by Stranraer Parish Church, still standing on Church Street.
The next notable period in the Church history of Wigtownshire came in the Seventeenth Century. A dispute arose between the King and the Church. The King wanted Scotland to change from presbyterian church government to episcopacy. The Covenanters stood against the King and many were martyred, including the two Mary’s at Wigtown and Richard Cameron the minister of New Luce. Many in Stranraer supported the Covenanters. With Presbyterianism re-established in Scotland the Church had a settled period till the Eighteenth Century.
Patronage was to bring much division within Stranraer Parish and across Scotland. When a new minister was to be appointed to a Parish Church, patronage meant the local laird or lairds, that is landowners, appointed the minister. Many opposed such patronage, they wanted the Church members to be allowed a say in the choice of new minister. This lead to a number of break away Churches; Secession Church, Relief Church and finally in the Disruption of 1843 when a large proportion of ministers and church members left to form the Free Church. Stranraer had more than one of each of these breakaway churches.
In the 1850’s the Church of Scotland brought an end to patronage bringing about the beginning of denominational reunion in Scotland. The Secession Church united with the Relief Church in 1847 to form the United Presbyterian Church. Later this new Church united with the Free Church to form the United Free Church in 1900. The United Free Church returned to the Church of Scotland in 1929.
Stranraer Churches which have come together to today form Stranraer Parish Church are listed below.
High Kirk: a union of Sheuchan Church, St. Margarets Church (a former United Free Church which was previously Sheuchan Free Church).
Trinity Church: former names Ivy Place Church, St Andrew’s Church, Town Church.
Ivy Place was a Secession Church then United Presbyterian before becoming St. Andrew’s United Free Church and joining the Church of Scotland in 1929.
There was also an Original Secession Church ( now the Masonic Hall) which was dissolved in 1922, allowing its members join whichever alternative church they wished.
Stranraer Parish Church Historical Photos
Stranraer Parish Church - Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
The inside of the High Kirk or Sheuchan Church
Add a photo
I want to know Thee
Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Stranraer Parish Church listing was last updated on the 25th of June, 2023
