Tongland Parish Church

Today's the day ………………….. to go back in time

This is all that's left of the last Parish Church to be built in Tongland.

It was built in 1813 and was described as being '...….a handsome and commodious building, with Gothic windows and a square tower'.  Now it is in a poor condition and roofless, having been last used for worship in the 1930’s.

It was built to replace the older 17th century one that you can see in the extra, which stands close by.  Very little of that survives, but interestingly, that rounded archway in the north wall is thought to perhaps be a 13th century remnant of Tongland Abbey which was re-used. 

Nothing of the Abbey remains above ground now but its foundations probably underlie both the Parish Churches.  It was founded around 1218 by Alan, Lord of Galloway and Canons of the Premonstratensian Order (the White Canons) lived, worked and worshipped here for over 300 years until the abbey closed around 1560...……………….