Transactions’ 35 
Welsh Carlyle, belong to the more recent times of the family 
history. 
A very considerable portion of the parish consisted originally 
of church lands, possessed by the monastery of Sacrinemoris or 
Holywood, and the monastery of Melrose, as represented by the 
establishment at Friars’ Carse. As far back as the year 1257 a 
dispute arose between the rival Abbots concerning their 
respective rights to the church of Dunscore. The controversy 
was referred to the Bishop of Glasgow, who decided in favour of 
Holywood, while the Abbots of Melrose were confirmed in the 
right to the tithes of their own Monkiands in Stranith. 
In those days the church of Dunscore was situated at the 
eastern end of the parish, where the old churchyard is, and there 
was a chapel in Glenesslin to meet the wants of the people of 
the outlying hill country to the west. This arrangement seems 
to have been continued after the Reformation—perhaps until 
1649, when the newer church of Dunscore was built at the village 
of Cottack, near the middle of the parish, now better known as 
Dunscore Village. No trace of the old church remains, and the 
old manse, whose site was near the present gate-lodge of Isle, 
has also entirely disappeared. 
The existing manse was erected in 1814. In its eastern gable 
is preserved a stone from its predecessor on the same site, bearing 
the inscription—‘“ In usum Pastorum Dunscoriensium edificari 
Curavit Jo: Dickie Past: 1740.” 
The church of 1649 was replaced in 1823 by the present more 
commodious structure. The massive square tower is a con- 
spicuous feature of the landscape, and may be seen from a great 
distance, so that, like the Kirk of Shotts, it is often alluded to as 
“the visible church.” It attracted from afar the eye of Carlyle 
on the memorable day of Emerson’s visit, when the two 
philosophers climbed together the heathery steeps of Craigen- 
puttock Hill, talking of the immortality of the soul, and Carlyle 
made the remark, ‘‘ Christ died on the Tree: that built Dunscore 
Kirk yonder: that brought you and me together. Time has 
only a relative existence.” The church itself looks down on two 
picturesque valleys—Glenesslin due west, and Glencairn to the 
north, the latter showing the circle of dark yews that mark the 
site of Glenriddel Castle, and the lovely green braes of Maxwel- 
ton, the home of Annie Laurie. Built into a corner of the 
tower is a stone hollowed out to form a cup or bowl, which is 
