High Kirk Of Stranraer, Leswalt High Road, Stranraer

The High Kirk of Stranraer is a church constructed in 1841, with a vestry added in 1895 and a porch designed by P MacGregor Chalmers in 1912. It is located near Leswalt on the High Road into Stranraer, and is set within a larger graveyard. The building has a near-rectangular plan with a square, castellated tower. It is built of whinstone with sandstone ashlar dressings. Angle buttresses emphasise the northwest elevation, while clasping buttresses divide the bays of the southeast elevation. Quoins, long and short surrounds, and a mutuled cornice contribute to the architectural detail. Round-arched windows are a recurring feature.

The northwest elevation, which serves as the main entrance front, is three bays wide, with an advanced, three-stage bell tower. A roll-moulded arched doorway contains a two-leaf, timber-panelled door. A canted band course divides the first and second stages of the tower, above which is a roll-moulded arched, leaded light. A plain band course separates the second and third stages, topped by louvred openings on all sides and a castellated corbel. Flanking bays feature roll-moulded, arched, leaded lights with recessed aprons. A lean-to extension and decorative screen wall adjoin the left side, with a timber-boarded door to the right.

The southwest elevation has a recessed bell tower on the left and three tall, round-arched, leaded lights spanning the nave. A vestry is situated on the right. The northeast elevation mirrors this arrangement, with a recessed bell tower on the right, three tall round-arched leaded lights to the nave, and a vestry on the left.

The southeast elevation presents roll-moulded arched stained glass windows within the central gabled section, and roll-moulded blind lights in the flanking bays. Steps lead to a flat-roofed porch to the vestry, featuring a timber door and a leaded light, with "1912" inscribed within the window surround. A pitched-roof vestry has single lights on its elevations. Modern, flat-roofed, harled extensions are situated to the right with modern windows on each elevation.

The building is characterised by leaded and stained glass windows and a grey slate roof with stone skews. Cast iron rainwater goods are also present.

Inside, the church is predominantly timber framed. A Norman and Beard organ occupies the northeast corner. A timber door leads into the building. A stained glass and timber veneer rood screen is located on the northwest side. Arched leaded lights are visible from the southwest and northeast elevations, as are two flanking a two-leaf timber door to the gallery. The nave features a painted, pitched roof with decorative ribs and bosses, a timber dado panelling with timber pews, and a cornice, along with a painted pitched roof. The chancel is panelled in timber and has a recessed, round-arched window on the southeast side. Within this window are a pair of stained glass windows executed by James Ballantine II in 1922, with decorative hoodmoulds and a pilastered blind arch with a cross. The church features a High Presbyterian arrangement of furnishings designed by P MacGregor Chalmers, including a stone base to the timber lectern, communion table, font and elders' chairs.

The surrounding graveyard contains a number of impressive obelisk memorial stones and a variety of 19th century memorials. Coped sandstone boundary walls with railings enclose the site, featuring square gatepiers topped with pyramidal caps. Cast iron gates provide a pedestrian entrance on the southwest side. A manse and a modern hall (designed by Robert Potter in 1969-70) are located to the southeast.