take me to church

On my hot and sweaty 6 mile walk today, I passed Irongray Church. The old manse is on one side of the road and this gate, which opens to a footpath leading to the church, is on the other.  This church was built in 1803 but there was a church here in 1274 and before that the site was used for worship by itinerant monks. The manse was built in 1797 and is now a private house. I like to think of the minister of 200 years ago walking over to conduct the Sunday service and then walking back along this path for his lunch.