The Church of Scotland to which Dunscore Kirk belongs has a Parish structure the length and breadth of Scotland.
Dunscore is a linked charge with our sister congregation of Glencairn and Moniaive with whom we have regular joint services.
This makes our Parish one of the largest, geographically, within the Presbytery of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright.

 recharge the batteries for the week ahead.

Our Sunday morning service takes place at 10.00 a.m. and all are welcome. The first part of the service is given over to the children and young people who then go out to Sunday School. A creche meets in the vestry during the service. Coffee and Tea are served in the church at the end of the service to give people the opportunity to chat. The children rejoin us at this point for some well-earned orange juice.

An Evening Service is held on the second Sunday of the month at 7p.m. - this is a more reflective and informal service taken by the minister.

We have three communion services each year - 1st Sunday of the year, 2nd Sunday in May and 2nd Sunday in September. Cards are no longer required and Communion is open to 'All who love the Lord'.

Both congregations are forward looking and active in ways relevent to their communities.

There have been many new initiatives from Sessions and Boards, who aim to serve Christ, his Church - young and old, members and the community.

Our present minister the Rev.Christine Sime has been with us since August,1994.

Brief History

There has been a Church in its present position in Dunscore overlooking the Cairn Valley since 1649. The baptismal font in use today goes back to that original church as does the carved sandstone plaque on the outside east gable-end inscribed 'How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts to me'.

The present Church, which serves the entire parish, was built at a cost of £1,072 in 1823. The original place of worship was situated at the East end of the parish and was established by a Norman Lord circa 1170. The land was gifted to the Abbey of Holywood by the Monks of Melrose - there has therefore been a Christian presence in the parish for over 800 years. Monks played an important part in developing the area - improving drainage, growing crops and promoting animal husbandry.

The interior of the Church has a large panel on its east wall naming the priests and ministers who have served the parish over many centuries. Dunscore is in the heart of Covenanting country and its one-time minister, Rev. Archibald, was ousted from his charge.

There are covenanting communion and commemorative stones in the surrounding area. Each Summer we continue to hold a conventicle at one of the covenanting sites (no matter the weather or midges).

On the west wall of the Church, in an area known as the Craig Corner, there is a plaque to the memory of Jane Haining who was born in Dunscore and worshipped in the Craig Free Church. She was the only Scots woman to die in Auschwitz. As Matron of the Girls Home in the Budapest Mission of the Church of Scotland, she refused to leave her charges when war broke out and paid the ultimate price.
Non-Jews who gave or risked their lives to aid Jews in the Holocaust may be added to the list of 'Righteous Among the Nations' - the Memorial of the Jewish people located in Jerusalem and recently visited by Pope John Paul II in March 2000. Jane Haining was so honoured in 1998.

To bring us up to date Dunscore Church spearheaded a Community event to commemorate the Millennium by fund raising in excess of £15000. £11000 of this was sent to Ethiopia to help fund a Water Aid project and £4500 was spent on village memorials - a Millennium wood, Peace Pole and improvements to the playground. A carved wooden cross has also been gifted to the Church from this project and was dedicated on Easter Sunday 2000. The Cross, made of Scottish Oak, has been hung directly behind the pulpit and is a fine addition to the Church.

Also hung in the Craig Corner of the Church is a recently completed Banner depicting Church symbols combined with local features made using different forms of needlework and collage for this tapestry. The Banner was worked on by many people connected with the Church and has already attracted much favourable comment.

Rock Solid

In February 2007 Rock Solid celebrated its 10^th Anniversary with a party when former members and leaders were invited. This group aimed at the 11-15 year-olds goes from strength to strength and actively supported by many people in the congregation in many ways.