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history |
Whithorn Associate Congregation, which belonged to the Antiburgher branch of the Secession church, first recieved mention within the Secession records at the Synod in May 1793, when a call was presented to Mr John Mitchell. The first church of Whithorn Associate is believed to have been built in 1790 and the first minister of the congregation, John Smith, was ordained in 1795. A new church was later opened for worship on the 9th March 1892. In 1900, upon the union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, Whithorn United Presbyterian was renamed Whithorn St John's United Free Church, and the charge was later reduced in status in 1910. In 1913 however Whithorn St John's was united with the congregation of Whithorn St Ninian's, under the name of Whithorn. After this local union the former St John's church and manse continued in use. Following the 1929 union between the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church, Whithorn United Free became Whithorn St Ninian's Church of Scotland and a union was established in 1937 with the congregation of Whithorn Priory, under the name of Whithorn St Ninian's Priory. As a result of this union the former St Ninian's church and manse were sold. Whithorn Associate congregation sat within the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Galloway and later the United Free Presbytery of Wigtown and Stranraer. |