Undiscovered Scotland

 

Our feature about Whithorn Priory gives the remarkable story of the priory and its more than sixteen centuries of history. This page focuses on the nearby St Ninian’s Priory Parish Church of Whithorn, to give it its full title. This white-harled three bay church was built in 1822 on the site of the east range of the cloisters of the priory, with the east wall of the church incorporating masonry of the priory dormitory.

As originally built, the church had no tower. The one you see today was added in the middle of the 1800s. The porches on either side of the tower were added in 1914. It was perhaps inevitable that the main body of the church should be finished in white, carrying on the ancient tradition of the Candida Casa or "White House" that St Ninian established here so long ago. (Continues below images...)

 

Inside the church a gallery runs round three sides. The pulpit and communion table date back to 1915, though they are styled to look older. There are two lovely stained glass windows flanking the pulpit. They represent the Good Shepherd and Saint Ninian. These were produced by Alexander Kerr and added in 1956-7. The most striking memorial is to the Reverend Christopher Nicholson, who was minister here for fiffty-six years and died in 1867.

As you might expect in a place known as the the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, this is an active church with a strong community. Morning worship takes place every Sunday at 10am.