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Stranraer Parish Church
Stranraer
Dumfries and Galloway
DG9 0AA
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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
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
Quote of the Day
John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Denomination
Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland churches in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
Church of Scotland churches in Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
Church of Scotland churches in United Kingdom
All churches in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
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Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. Andy Muir
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Minister
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Stranraer Parish Church Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Mrs. L. McCandlish
Admin Position:
Session Clerk
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Stranraer Parish Church Stranraer Service Times
Sunday Worship at 11.00am
Service Times last updated on the 25th of June, 2023
Service Times last updated on the 25th of June, 2023
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Children and Youth Activities
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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.
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Stranraer Parish Church Photo Gallery
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.
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.
Stranraer Parish Church Historical Photos
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