Preface
Following
a meeting of the Church Board early in 2005, it was resolved to photograph and
catalogue the communion plate from both churches.
This
was initiated on the 20th August 2005.
At this meeting of the Board,
all the plate was on display.
Mr Jack Thomson, with his notable interest in antique silver, combined with a
profound knowledge of local history,
was able to provide much of the description and commentary for the text.
Mr
Kirkpatrick Dobie was also present, cataloguing on behalf of the Presbytery and
providing additional detail which with his kind permission is also included.
We
hope that this collection and the short historical notes will provide a useful
document for the future and an interesting explanatory commentary for church
members, young and old.
For
further historical information about the two parishes, the reader is referred
to
‘The Book of Kirkpatrick-Durham’ by W.A.Stark F.S.A.(Scot) Castle
and ‘Annals of the
We
are indebted to, not only those named above, but also Mrs Sheila Bishop, Mrs
Betty Watson, Mrs
Mary Burney, Mr Michael and Mrs Jane Ingall for
their practical help and advice. Lastly, my grateful thanks to Ms
Marianne Smith for her invaluable help in producing this booklet.
John
McCormick
April
2007
Historical
Note
It
is known without doubt that there was a church on Minnydow Kirkpatrick-Durham in
the 13th century. When it moved to the present site is unknown; but
it was replaced again in 1748 and the present church built in 1848. The village
itself was founded and built close by the church in 1783 by the Reverend David
Lamont, minister of the parish of Kirkpatrick-Durham, who used a legacy to buy
land that could be feued “on good terms to handloom weavers”.
The
church pews were removed in 1949 and a wall erected to form the present lower
hall, followed by the upper hall in 1952. The most recent refurbishment was
completed in 2003.
In
May 1662, an Act of Parliament deprived of their “Livings” all Ministers who
had not been presented by their Patrons. This virtually “outed” all
ministers staunch to their Presbyterian convictions. As a result, in 1666, the
Minister of Kirkpatrick-Durham,
Reverend Gabriel Semple, who had been ordained 26th May 1657, held
the first ‘conventicle’ or field preaching at Corsock. This is commemorated
by a wooden plaque in the church.
On
the first Sunday it was held in the hall at
Because
of his beliefs and “for appearing for the covenanters at Pentland”, John
Neilson was soon after “driven from his home, spoiled of his goods, tortured
by the boots and hanged at the Cross in Edinburgh on the 14th
December 1666.” He was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard in
Although
his home is now a ruin, a stone bearing the Neilson Arms, the initials of his
parents (I.N and M.G) and the date of
their wedding – 1589 - can still be seen, set into the east wall of the
present Corsock House.
Episcopal
curates were thrust into the churches and over the next 26 years
Reverend
Semple was side-lined and eventually expelled. Services were conducted by
Episcopal curates, so called because they had charge of the “cure” or
benefice, deriving from the French word curé (parish priest).
The
third curate, replacing Reverend Semple at Kirkpatrick-Durham, was Alexander
Sangster, previously from the Isle of Cumbrae. He arrived in 1676 and beat a
hasty retreat in 1688. Although never proven, it was a widely
held view among the congregation, that
he also absconded with the communion plate. It
is recorded in the session clerk’s
minutes of 1698 that there were no communion cups and that two elders were
therefore dispatched to Balmaghie ‘to fetch the lend of the cups’.
Around
1698, bread and wine were brought from
The
minister at that time was the Reverend James Hill. His son James was a surgeon
in Dumfries, who acquired much professional and scientific repute due largely to
his apprentice Dr Benjamin Bell, who became the greatest surgeon of his day in
The
Free Church, later known as the United Free Church originated with the
withdrawal of membership from the Church of Scotland in 1843. This was known as
‘The Act of Secession’.
The
building now used as the village hall in Kirkpatrick-Durham served as the Free
Church and Schoolroom. It opened in 1870 and cost about £750. There is a fine
stone plaque there, commemorating this event. The minister was Reverend George
J. C. Duncan.
The
churches were reunited on the 6th November 1940.
The
parish of Corsock was described in 1843 as Quoad Sacra (meaning ‘ as far as a place
of worship only is concerned, other matters excluded’) The parish was formed
from the three parishes of Kirkpatrick-Durham,
Balmaclellan and Parton. The Reverend Duncan, minister at Kirkpatrick-Durham,
was the first promoter of these arrangements. His assistant, Reverend
William Corson, held public worship in Drumhumphry Schoolroom and lived at
Nether Craigenputtock. He was later proprietor of Barmark on the Moniave road.
His relatives are still in the Corsock area.
For
communion, Corsock residents travelled to Kirkpatrick-Durham, Parton or
Balmaclellan, depending where they stayed, relative to the bridge over the Urr,
or on which side of the Auchenvey burn they lived.
The
parish church at Corsock was built in 1839 largely by the enthusiasm and support
of John Clerk-Maxwell. His son James,
a scientist, was the first Director of the Cavendish Laboratory in
In
1856 Corsock was disjoined but the parish church was only a preaching station
until the first minister, Reverend George Sturrock, was ordained in 1863.
Communion was held there from then on until the churches were finally united in
1947 and the parish church converted into a dwelling house in 1951.
The
Free Church was built in 1854 through the generosity of Alexander Murray-Dunlop.
A gifted lawyer and Member of Parliament, he was prominent in shaping the
movement that resulted in “ The Act of Secession”.
He
drew up the “Claim of Right” regarded as the most important document in the
whole of the “Ten Years Conflict”.
His
family also gifted much of the communion plate and latterly, the font.
In
1963, Corsock was again linked with
Kirkpatrick- Durham and
Item:Four pewter
plates
Date:
circa 1870
Description:
Set
of four EPBM plates, nearly matching. Diameter 353mm.
James Dixon and sons (impressed)
Notes:
From
the United Free Church of
The
United Free Church of Scotland
Item:
Date:
circa 1820
Description:
See
Cotterell p282 no. 3889
Notes:
Not
currently in use in
Item:
Date:
1850
Description:
Lead
of oval shape and inscribed Kirkpatrick- Durham 1850, enclosing a blank oval and
on the reverse ‘Communion Token’ enclosing a cartouche containing the number
1, 2 or 3 under the heading “Table”.
Notes:
Possibly
produced locally. In the early days Communion was held when the minister
decided, sometimes at intervals of two to three years. Neighbouring ministers
were called on to assist.
A
tent was erected in part of the present churchyard and tables were set and
numbered. Hence the numbers shown on the tokens.
Item:
Date:
1725
Description:
Square
and of lead approximately
22mm x 22mm and inscribed on face K.P.D 1725 with plain reverse
Notes:
See
Brook no 679
Item:
Two of the three
travelling communion sets
Date:
Victorian
Description:
All
three sets are made of EPNS and bear no visible makers marks or dates.
Notes:
The set above, the oldest of the three, has no known provenance.
Reverend
Graham Little gifted the set below
on his retirement in 1968.
Item:
Notes:
The set above was presented to Reverend Ronald Dick by Miss
Dorothy Peacock and her sister
Mrs May Dorward from
Their
father David Peacock was
born in 1864 and was brought up in the
Item:
Date:
1843
Description:
Inscribed,
“Free Church of Scotland” enclosing date 1843.
On
the reverse
Notes:
Issued
nationally by the Free Church of Scotland on its establishment in 1843. These
tokens were distributed by members of the Kirk session in Kirkpatrick- Durham
and taken up at the communion service.
See
Kerr & Lockie no. 840
Item:
Set
of four pewter cups
Date:
circa 1870
Description:
Deep
Bowl, spool stem with knob, Height 212mm Width of base 106mm.
Notes:
From
the United Free Church of Scotland Kirkpatrick-Durham, which was reunited with
the present Church of Scotland on the 6th November 1940.
The
United Free Church of Scotland was rebuilt in 1870.
Item:
Mediaeval
collection plate
Date:
13th
century
Description:
Large
pewter plate with high lead content.
It
is 32cm in diameter and 2.5cm deep.
Its
beaded rim is mostly incomplete.
There
is a distorted triangular extension that would have accommodated a wooden
handle.
Notes:
It is
listed in the 1927 inventory as made of tin and was used in the
original church site at Minnydow Kirkpatrick-Durham. An alternative later
suggestion was that it was used in the chapel at Kirtlebride.
Item:
Date:
circa 1890
Description:
Inverted
pear body on foot.
High loop handle. Narrow neck,
Domed
lid with flower finial.
Gilt interior. Height 290mm
Width
of base 88 mm.
Described
in an early inventory
as “Very Handsome”
Notes:
Probably
a claret jug gifted by the Murray–Dunlop family of Corsock
House.
Item:
A
pair of communion cups
Date: 1846
Description:
Victorian.
Silver with waisted bowl. Baluster stem. Stepped domed
foot. Weight 20oz each. Width of bowl 130mm. Width of base 115mm.
Marked Duty, Castle, J .Mc M (gothic)
Inscribed
‘Presented to the parish of Kirkpatrick-Durham by Mrs Martin of Kilquhanity
June 1846’
Notes:
In
current use
Date:
1927
Description:
Marked Townsend (impressed)
Notes:
Item:
Date:
1886
Description:
Inscribed
I H S (in a sunburst).
Marked
Walker & Hall
Height
280mm. Width of base 149 mm.
Notes:
Detail
Item:
Date:
1886
Description:
Deep
square bowl. Spool stem.
Trumpet foot.
Inscribed
I H S (in a sunburst).
Marked
Walker & Hall
Notes:
Probably
gifted by the Murray-Dunlop family of Corsock House.
Item:
A
single plate
Date:
circa 1908
Description:
stepped
to base.
Notes:
before Easter.
Probably
gifted from the Free
Church.
Item:
Date:
circa 1750
Description:
A
pair of pewter flagons 8.5 inches high.
Tapered body with mid girdle and reeded base. ’S’ handle.
Almost flat lid with thumb piece
Made
by Ballantyne, Edinburgh.
Notes:
Although
there is no record, these
were probably purchased by
See
Cotterell p.153 no. 218
Item:
Date:
1863
Description:
Unidentified
mark
Notes:
parish church built in 1839.
Communion was not held until 1863.
Item:
Date:
circa 1940
Description:
Wide rim, stepped to base.
Marked J D & S. Bell.
Notes: Currently in use in communions at Corsock.
Item:
Date:
1733
Description:
Height
190mm. Width of bowl 108mm. Width of base 103mm.
Notes:
Item:
Date:
circa 1870
Description:
Tapered
body with mid girdle on spreading foot, spout, double domed lid, 'S' handle.
Height
305mm, Width of base 192mm.
Notes:
From the United
Free Church of Scotland Kirkpatrick- Durham which was re-united with the present
Church of Scotland on 6th November 1940.
The
United Free Church of Scotland Kirkpatrick- Durham was rebuilt in 1870
Item:
Date:
1946
Description:
Overall
width 26cm.
Width of bowl 20cm. Depth of bowl 5cm. EPBM. Lacks any marks
Notes:
Roger C. Bell’s grandfather was Alexander Murray-Dunlop.
Item:
Date:
1927
Description:
A
nest with four trays complete with cover and containing 24 glasses in each tray.
Electroplated.
Notes:
Currently
used at
Item:
Date:
1927
Description:
Notes:
Currently
used in
Kirkpatrick-Durham church.
Item:
Tapered
body on three-stepped skirt.
’S’ handle with scroll terminal.
Shaped spout domed lid with finial.
EPNS with inscription below spout.
Inscribed
“Presented by Mrs Hunter of Newall Close Otley to the parish
It
may have been gifted to the United Free Church.
Item:
Date:
circa 1854
Description:
Width of bowl 357mm.
Lacks any inscription.
Turned
over rim stepped to base.
Notes:
at Corsock Free Church
as bread plates.
Item:
Date:
circa 1854
Description:
Height 204mm.
Notes:
Murray-Dunlop, whose generosity enabled the Free Church to be built in 1853 and completed in 1854.
Item:
Date: 1802
Description:
Georgian
silver cups. Height 250mm. Bowl width 126mm. Base width 113mm. Engraver McHattie
& Fenwick
Spool
stem with knob. Trumpet foot, reeded.
Inscribed
‘Given to the parish of Kirkpatrick-Durham by Elizabeth McCartney, spouse to
James McMillan of
Notes:
Item:
Indian
design. Made of Indian silver. The flagon has a porcelain interior (which is
most unusual) and is straight sided with an oval handle, spout and finial. The
liner is retained by thumbscrews under the lid. Marked Reid and Barron.
There
are two beakers, each with a bowl width of 90mm; height 118mm; width of base
62mm.
Notes:
Item:
Date:
1886
Description: EPNS
plate, width of base 227mm
Notes:
Item:
Date:
circa 1927
Description:
Notes:
Kirkpatrick-
Durham.
Item:
Date:
1946
Description:
Marked A. Edward Jones Silversmith
Height 12.5cm Base 11cm.
Notes: