Kirkmahoe Parish Church, Kirkton

Kirkmahoe Parish Church is a mid-19th century Gothic church, probably designed by Walter Newall of Dumfries and constructed between 1822 and 1833. Later internal re-ordering was likely undertaken around 1889 by James Barbour of Dumfries. The church has a rectangular plan with a three-bay layout, and incorporates a three-stage square tower at the west gable and a gabled vestry added to the inner bay of the south wall. It is built of stugged red ashlar with polished dressings, and all openings have hood mouldings.

The tower features a Tudor-arched door facing west, with other openings exhibiting geometric tracery and louvres at the upper stage. Strings run at sill levels, and diagonal buttresses, stepped at each stage, rise to pinnacles above a crenellated parapet. The east gable has two buttressed and pinnacled porches, with Tudor-arched and gabled fronts, flanking a large perpendicular-traceried window, and also incorporate quatrefoil and cross openings. Diagonal buttresses with pinnacles extend above the eaves. Perpendicular-traceried windows are found in the buttressed north and south elevation bays. The building has an eaves band and a slate roof. The vestry also has diagonal buttresses and a pointed window facing south. A more recent addition sits in the west re-entrant angle.

Inside, an octagonal pulpit with a canopy is located to the north of the east window. The east window is of leaded glass, the pews have panelled backs, and the ceiling features simple ribs. A modern organ gallery is positioned on the west wall.

The churchyard is enclosed by an ashlar-coped rubble wall, with square gatepiers topped with domed caps, and a hearse house to the south. The church contains 18th and 19th century monuments displaying good classical ornament. The building continues to be used as an ecclesiastical building. Drawings relating to James Barbour’s scheme for improvements are held by Sutherland Dickie and Copeland, Dumfries, and are dated 1889.