Mr Paterson, the present minister of the church, started by reading a poem ' the auld church in the Square'
Then he told us how it is known that there was a church on that site in the 1200 s.This was the time of the Crusades. Pope Innocent iv wanted to mount a Crusade against the Saracens ( with the help of Henry lll) and so in 1254 a levy was demanded from all churches. In those pre-Reformation days all churches were of course Roman Catholic.
Cumnock didn't pay! This came to the attention of the authorities in Rome - and Cumnock entered the history books! Rome caught up with Cumnock in 1275 when the levy was finally paid - £16. And the result? Cumnock got into the history books.
The last priest and first minister of the church in Cumnock was one and the same person - Rev. John Dunbar. He ministered between 1560 and 1572
Ministers in Cumnock
At this time the 'auld church in the Square ' was dedicated to St Conval - and Irish prince who had come to Scotland. He was obviously an important figure as he was asked to preach at the funeral of Aidan, King of the Scots in 608. Conval was a follower of Kentigern who was associated with Glasgow Cathedral. Cumnock was a prebend of Glasgow Cathedral. Wikipedia says
'A prebend is the form of benefice held by a prebendary, and historically the stipend attached to it was usually drawn from specific sources in the income of the cathedral's estates.'
One of the changes that came about with the Reformation was to do with who chose the minister for the church. Before it was the responsiblity of the central church to select a clergyman for a church. Afterward the congregations who were paying the minister's stipend, assumed the right to choose.
Another change can be seen in the different church buildings in Cumnock today. With the Reformation, the Bible and theology became accessible to the ordinary man and opened the way for differences of opinion. The first cessationists left and started meeting in a barn at Wallacetown Farm and eventually at what became the West Church (now the Box House Cafe) in the Tanyard.There is a story that the Earl of Dumfries refused to pay to provide sand to build this church. The problem was solved when the River Lugar flooded and threw up enough sand exactly where it was needed!
At this point Mr Paterson explained the structure of church government in Scotland and talking about the discipline enforced by the church, he told us a story about a trip he made to Stornoway.
More visual evidence of the changes wrought by the Reformation can be seen on the spire of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. There is a crown on top - signifying the authority of the monarch over the church. Nowadays in Scotland the authority of the church is above that of the monarch.
In 1899 the Crichton Memorial came into being a Free Church, and then in 1929 the United Free Church was formed when the other church came back together and some members of the United Free Church wished to remain outside the Church of Scotland.
The last priest and first minister of the church in Cumnock was one and the same person - Rev. John Dunbar. He ministered between 1560 and 1572
Ministers in Cumnock
At this time the 'auld church in the Square ' was dedicated to St Conval - and Irish prince who had come to Scotland. He was obviously an important figure as he was asked to preach at the funeral of Aidan, King of the Scots in 608. Conval was a follower of Kentigern who was associated with Glasgow Cathedral. Cumnock was a prebend of Glasgow Cathedral. Wikipedia says
'A prebend is the form of benefice held by a prebendary, and historically the stipend attached to it was usually drawn from specific sources in the income of the cathedral's estates.'
One of the changes that came about with the Reformation was to do with who chose the minister for the church. Before it was the responsiblity of the central church to select a clergyman for a church. Afterward the congregations who were paying the minister's stipend, assumed the right to choose.
Another change can be seen in the different church buildings in Cumnock today. With the Reformation, the Bible and theology became accessible to the ordinary man and opened the way for differences of opinion. The first cessationists left and started meeting in a barn at Wallacetown Farm and eventually at what became the West Church (now the Box House Cafe) in the Tanyard.There is a story that the Earl of Dumfries refused to pay to provide sand to build this church. The problem was solved when the River Lugar flooded and threw up enough sand exactly where it was needed!
At this point Mr Paterson explained the structure of church government in Scotland and talking about the discipline enforced by the church, he told us a story about a trip he made to Stornoway.
More visual evidence of the changes wrought by the Reformation can be seen on the spire of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. There is a crown on top - signifying the authority of the monarch over the church. Nowadays in Scotland the authority of the church is above that of the monarch.
In 1899 the Crichton Memorial came into being a Free Church, and then in 1929 the United Free Church was formed when the other church came back together and some members of the United Free Church wished to remain outside the Church of Scotland.
St Andrew's United Free Church. This is a useful link to the website of the Cumnock History Group.
In 1929 there were more ministers than required but nowadays there are not enough. One of Mr Paterson's responsibilites in the Presbytery of Ayr, is to decide which churches are thriving sufficiently well to allow them to continue as they are, and which need to be linked to another church.
St John's Church
Mr Paterson showed us pictures of the stained glass windows in the Old Church and noted how the influence of the Marquis could be seen in their shape - candles!
To celebrate the centenary of the present building in 1966, a ceramic mural was created on the wall behind the pulpit. The Kirk Session thought this was 'not what you'd expect to see in a Protestant church' and so they arranged for a curtain to be hung in front of it. The curtain rail was put up - but the curtain itself never materialised. The picture is of Peter attempting to walk on the water.
Next year the 150th of the present building will be celebrated.
It was very interesting how Mr Paterson used both British and international history, and church history to show where Old Cumnock Old Church fitted into the bigger picture.
St John's Church
Mr Paterson showed us pictures of the stained glass windows in the Old Church and noted how the influence of the Marquis could be seen in their shape - candles!
To celebrate the centenary of the present building in 1966, a ceramic mural was created on the wall behind the pulpit. The Kirk Session thought this was 'not what you'd expect to see in a Protestant church' and so they arranged for a curtain to be hung in front of it. The curtain rail was put up - but the curtain itself never materialised. The picture is of Peter attempting to walk on the water.
Next year the 150th of the present building will be celebrated.
It was very interesting how Mr Paterson used both British and international history, and church history to show where Old Cumnock Old Church fitted into the bigger picture.
