|
Admin
history |
The congregation of Ecclefechan Associate Session, which belonged to the Burgher branch of the Secession church, first originated in 1748 when the Burgher Presbytery of Edinburgh was petitioned with a request for sermon to be provided at Ecclefechan. Prior to this time Burgher residents of Ecclefechan had to travel some six miles to attend church at Lockerbie. In the beginning sermon took place very irregularly within Ecclefechan and the first minister of the congregation, John Johnstone, wasn't ordain until 1761. By this stage a church had yet to be built and service was conducted in the open air until 1766 when a thatch-covered building was erected to house the congregation. In 1900, following the union of the United Presbyterians and the Free Church, Ecclefechan United Presbyterian was renamed Ecclefechan West United Free Church however in 1915 Ecclefechan West United Free was united with the congregation of Ecclefechan East United Free, under the name of Ecclefechan. The charge of Ecclefechan United Presbyterian and later of West United Free sat within the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Annandale. |