Author Topic: St Andrews (Kilmun) United Free Church  (Read 2747 times)

Offline Dunli

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St Andrews (Kilmun) United Free Church
« on: Sunday 30 May 10 21:33 BST (UK) »
Hello there, I am searching for information and in particular old photographs of St. Andrews United Free Church in Kilmun by Dunoon, Argyll.

The Church was originally named Kilmun United Free Church and the name was changed later to St Andrews Church.

I believe the church was completed on May 18th, 1843.  The lower part of the Church was utilised as a school.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Regards,

Dunli

Offline Boomeranger

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Re: St Andrews (Kilmun) United Free Church
« Reply #1 on: Friday 05 November 10 11:00 GMT (UK) »
Not sure if this is the church you are after. In the late 1950's we used to play in the ruins of the old Manse up the hill. When I last visited Kilmun in the 1980's the church building was being converted to a pottery. Hope this helps, and the pix is not too huge to transmit.

Offline Dunli

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Re: St Andrews (Kilmun) United Free Church
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 07 November 10 07:08 GMT (UK) »
Hello and many thanks for the photograph of the United Free church.  This is exactly the church I was searching for!  Do you know when the photograph was taken?
I cannot find much information about the church itself.  I sent an e-mail to the United Free church but they never replied.
There is a house built where the manse stood.  The church was a pottery but has now been converted into a house.  At present I occupy the lower part, which is the 3 lower windows shown in the photograph.  The lower part was apparently a schoolhouse but I have no information as to the dates.
Can you advise if there a graveyard to the rear of the church?  There appear to be some sort of standing stones in the photograph.   
Again, many thanks for the photo and if you come across any others, or any other information of the area, or where I could find it, it would be appreciated.
Are you still in the Dunoon area?
Regards,
Dunli

Offline Boomeranger

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Re: St Andrews (Kilmun) United Free Church
« Reply #3 on: Monday 08 November 10 06:11 GMT (UK) »
Glad it was the right place! It's an old postcard I bought on eBay, I figure 1920-1930. I left Kilmun in 1959 and I'm still living in Melbourne Australia. The visit in 1982 was the only one I've made back. I would be very surprised if there was a graveyard in the back, it was always dense bushes and very hilly when I used to play there in the 1950's. We made a 'gang hut' in one of the rooms in the old Manse, which was still standing but in advanced disrepair (probably because the lead flashing on the roof had been pinched by someone!). The church itself was used to store furniture from intestate deceased estates, and was full of intriguing stuff brought back from the days of the Raj, spears and shields and turtle shells etc. We were always too scared to pinch anything, but over the years I fantasized about it so much I was determined to go back inside, even though the ceiling was already falling in, some 25 years earlier! Alas, the best laid plans... the very day we visited we saw the workmen going inside, and the place was empty. I wonder where all those goodies went?