The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject: Thornhill Congregational Church

Not listed on UKNIWM

This memorial was originally in Thornhill Congregational church (photo posted below) at the top of West Morton Street, OS Map Ref NX 876 953. The church closed and amalgamated with Thornhill Parish Church in 1977 and the memorial was moved there at that time. The original Congregational church is now a private house.

Current location is Thornhill Parish Church at OS Map Ref NX 882 958.

Unusual to see WW1 to Korea all on the same plaque. I presume this means that the memorial was created sometime between 1951 and 1977.

I was fortunate to meet Mr Jardine and get this information from him. He used to be a member of this church and his brother is listed on the memorial.

All the names are also on the Morton (Thornhill) civic memorial with the following exceptions:

Pte Wm Sharpe KOSB

Name: SHARPE, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 15/01/1916
Service No: 15160
Additional information: Son of William and Helen Sharpe, of Cample Slacks, Closeburn, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 53 to 56.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

William Sharpe is listed on the Closeburn memorial but presumably worshipped in this church. He is also on SNWM.

Sgt J Brown Met Police

Name: BROWN, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 34
Date of Death: 06/11/1940
Additional information: Constable, Metropolitan Police. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. L. Brown, of 6 Kinnell Street, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; husband of Ruth Shove Brown, of 4 The Drive, Longston Avenue, Harlesden. Died at Police Station, Salusbury Road.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: WILLESDEN, MUNICIPAL BOROUGH

John Brown is not on any other local memorial, nor on SNWM.

teddy · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 48

The building is not the Congregational Church, this is the Virgin Hall Church in West Morton street, Thornhill.
The photo of the church memorial was in Congregational Church, in Drumlanrig St Thornhill, enter Thornhill from Dumfries side and building found on right hand side about eight buildings down I think; and when stopped use as church made into the local Squash Club, never private house, still Squash Club in 2009. The memorial is now in Thornhill Parish Church.

The photo of building is Virgin Hall Church which until this year was owned and used by Parish Church as Hall, sold and from May 2009 houses Chinese anitique and modern furniture and everything you can think about Chinese, owner is Sue Collins-Palmer and under name of Zitan. There is Church memorial in this building, WW1, and is in light marble, and will remain in the building for everyone to see. This building found at top of West Morton St. Also houses tourist information for the area. Not open Mondays or Sundays and open from 11.0 daily to around 4.30 I think. Have photo of memorial.

In Parish Church Roll of Honour for WW1 and Memorial for WW2