Ruthwell Church

• Sanderson of Dalkeith, architect, 1803, remodelling

existing parish church; earlier fabric incorporated, eg on

Murray Aisle and at west end of south wall (blocked

openings): T-plan: apse added centrally on long north wall by

Campbell Douglas and Sellars 1887 to house Ruthwell cross:

re-modelled 1906 by Barbour and Bowie of Dumfries; door and

window openings mostly altered, re-roofed, with raised skews,

skewputts and finials. Whitewashed rubble, red ashlar

dressings. Openings round-headed, and mostly hoodmoulded;

north and south-facing windows with pointed lights; door on

east and west gables below quatrefoil light. Urn-finialed

birdcage belfry over Murray aisle, corresponding

ball-finialed cap to other gables: 2 pilastered axial

ventilators: slate roofs, curved with diamond roof lights

over apse.

Interior: Ruthwell cross (PIC - see Notes ) within apse enclosed by simple iron

balustrade, cross base below floor level; 1687 armorial panel

above arched recess in Murray aisle; some leaded glass

windows; simple roof vaulting; some bronze plaques 2

commemorating Henry Duncan, former parish minister and

founder of Savings bank.

Churchyard contains some fine monuments and is enclosed by

high ashlar-coped rubble walls (extended to north 20th

century), ball-finialed square gatepiers to south, stone

stile steps alongside; monuments include elaborate Conder

monument 1709; Duncan family mural monument 1832; tall

Dickson monument early 19th century; table tombs, upright and

recumbant slabs.