Dumfries Baptist Church celebrated its 150th anniversary at the weekend.
A service was held at its Gillbrae base followed by afternoon tea for about 260 people.
The Baptists started out as a small group in 1872 and met in an Irish Street hall.
Eight years later, they built a sandstone church in Newall Terrace, used until the new, bigger centre opened at Gillbrae in 2018.
The church’s records for the first 40 years were lost in a fire, but thankfully, a long report in The Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Advertiser detailed speeches from when the original building opened in 1880.
A church spokesperson said: “When the Victorians held two days of celebrations in their new building, the men donned their best suits to accompany ladies in bonnets and shawls.
“At the weekend, dress was more informal, but some things hadn’t changed. In 1880 there was a guest preacher from Glasgow. This time it was Rev Jonathan Lamb from Oxford, well known for his role in the Keswick Ministry.”
In 1880 the church was part of the recently formed Baptist Union of Scotland.
On Saturday, Rev Martin Hodson, general director of the union, brought greetings on behalf of the other 150 congregations.
The Victorian Baptists sought to work in harmony with other local churches and the theme continues to the present day, with Pastor Sandy Jamieson-Barr, of Dumfries Lighthouse Church, invited to lead the prayer.
In one of the most moving parts of Saturday’s service, Lead Pastor Alistair Purss and church secretary Lesley McKay read a roll call of those on whose shoulders the church now builds, including the first evangelist and 27 pastors.
Community Pastor Eoghan Paterson spoke of present and future activities designed to share the good news of the gospel and his joy at seeing lives changed as people encounter Jesus.
