Historic Angus church hosts last service after 188 years of worship

A HISTORIC Angus kirk has held its final service after nearly two centuries of worship.

Dun Church on the north side of Montrose Basin has been put up for sale by the Church of Scotland.

Yesterday, the Rev Ian Gray led the Scottishthemed farewell to the 188-year-old building.

The congregation included 88-year-old Agnes Mitchell, the kirk’s longest serving member who remembers her days at Sunday school.

Local historian Sheila Mann researched the church’s history and revealed the area’s link to 16th Century Reformation leader John Knox.

“Dun was built in 1834 to replace the church on the House of Dun estate,” said Ms Mann.

It was designed and built by Robert Dalgarno for Lady Margaret Erskine, the 17th Laird of Dun.

“The original church had been there since the 1500s, and around 1555 John Knox came to preach there,” she added.

Dun’s carved pulpit comes from the original church and dates back to 1615.

It will go on display in Edinburgh given its rarity.

The communion table is dedicated to Scots writer and poet Violet Jacob.

She was born Violet Augusta Mary Frederica Kennedy-Erskine at the House of Dun in 1863.

The kirk’s strong links with the Kennedy-Erskine family is marked in several historical features.

A plaque to the 18th laird was raised by “an attached and sorrowing people”.

The 19th laird is also remembered.

Lieutenant Arthur Henry Augustus Jacob, Violet’s son, was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 during the First World War.

It is possible the B-listed building could find a new role as a family home.

The church is on sale for offers over £80,000 and has 1,399sq ft of floor space.

Sellers Rightmove say an area of ground once occupied by the church hall could be sold separately for parking or amenity space.

The small graveyard will continue to be owned and maintained by Angus Council.

Members of the congregation at the last service.

Sheila Mann, left, and parishioner Agnes Mitchell.