A CHURCH TOUR

Our Church is situated on the main road through our village and is easily accessible by all. There is an abundance of parking nearby.

View to the North	View Southwards

This rear view shows the halls and kitchen complex with Corsencon Hill to the East	This is the front of our Church

In the aerial photograph below, the Church can be seen slightly to the right of centre. The prospect is to the west and the Lagoons.

The above photo is courtesy of Messrs J Murray and H Haddow

(Webmaster's note - if you enjoyed this photo, you can see more of the village from this height by clicking on Aerial Photos.)

A small garden has been created at the front of the Church and it is into this area that the war memorial from the Arthur Memorial Church has been moved. Click on the memorial image to see the Arthur Memorial Church Roll of Honour. This memorial was unveiled and dedicated in its original site at the Arthur Memorial Church on Sunday 14th February 1926 and the proceedings were reported in the Cumnock Chronicle of 26th February 1926.

You will always be assured of a warm welcome	at our Church

The Vestibule area contains some interesting plaques and memorials, among which are

that to the Rev Robert E Murray	and the Rev James Millar

The Parish Church Roll of Honour is also in the Vestibule. Click on the image to see this Roll of Honour. This plaque was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday the 8th March 1925 and the proceedings were reported in the Cumnock Chronicle of 13th March 1925

The vestibule also contains a very fine example of a Precentor's Table which you may miss as it is usually covered by a green baize cloth for retiring offerings. The Precentor was the person who, vocally, set the key and led the congregation in the singing of Psalms, Paraphrases and Hymns before the introduction of organs or pianos. The receptacle for the offering is an 18th century pewter dish.

	There is an inscription on the flat rim of the plate which reads "New Cumnock 1729 Kirk" further round are the initials "MTVH"

This is the screening which was brought from the Arthur Memorial, as seen from the inside of our Church

This is the Chancel area of our Church	The view from upstairs

This is the Baptismal Font, decorated by the Flower Guild, at Christmas

	The Heritors' Gallery

The Vestry contains pewter Communion jugs and chalices along with individual sets.	This is the stained glass opposite the Vestry.

The display cabinet in the Vestry contains the Sturrock Memorial Communion Set which is inscribed thus

In holy and tender memory of their dear son

Lieutenant Andrew Sturrock

Royal Scots Fusiliers

Who fell in the World War at the battle of the Somme

14th July 1916

This set of Communion Cups is presented to

Arthur Memorial United Free Church New Cumnock

by his parents David and Isa Sturrock

"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away"

Dedicated 7th June 1925

In 2008, we celebrated the 175th Anniversary of our present building and to commemorate this, a stained glass panel was commissioned. This panel can be seen in the passage between the vestry and the hall. It was dedicated on the 5th October.

“YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER”

This new stained glass window commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the church. The design of this window has reference to the past but also looks forward to the future of the community of New Cumnock. It has local references such as agriculture and coal mining to represent the working community. Also included is a Burns reference and the landscape. The window sends a clear message of hope for the future.

• The background of the window shows the hills and landscape of the area.

• To the left of the window there is an image of Blackcraig at the head of Glen Afton.

• In the blue sky above we have St. Andrews cross, the national flag of Scotland.

• The hillside reaches down into the patchwork of fields that are familiar in the surrounding agricultural land.

• Water flows from around the rocks to meet and then flow through the window. This marks the confluence of the River Nith and the River Afton, a meeting of waters that gave rise to the Gaelic place name comunn ach “place of the confluence”.

• Robert Burns, immortalised New Cumnock’s Afton Water in his poem “Sweet Afton”. The water flows throughout the window and is a symbol that life always moves forward and we should look to the future.

• The sky moves from night to day to represent the passage of time.

• New Cumnock was also a mining community. The image of a miner’s lamp is included. Light shines out and reaches up into a rainbow.

• The image of the rainbow sweeps forward as a sign of Gods covenant with the world. The rainbow combined with the dove is a symbol for hope for the future.

• A band of soft purple glass contains the symbol of the Alpha and Omega as the beginning and the end. This represents that we have our Faith throughout our lives and for evermore.

The stained glass window has been made using traditional methods of cut glass, lead and solder. The hand blown glass is bought from France, Germany and England. It has great colour and every sheet is unique. Each process is carefully executed by hand. It also contains faceted jewels. The text and stars are hand painted and kiln fired.

Moira Malcolm,

Rainbow Glass Studio.

At the back of the Church is the Hall and Kitchen complex. The main hall is where the organisations meet and can put on shows and displays. There are also a couple of smaller rooms.	The kitchen is where we get fed and watered from!

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