Oral history relates that a stone circle once existed in the parish, but that it disappeared due to stone removal between 1790 and 1870.[1]
Early written references to Kirkgunzeon predominantly relate to land grants. Kirkgunzeon is recorded in c.1200 as Kirkwynnin.[2]Wynnin represents a Cumbric form of the GaelicFinnén, a diminutive of Findbarr.[2]William J. Watson takes this to be Findbarr of Moyville.[2]Thomas Clancy argues the name commemorates Uinniau a local British saint, not recorded in literary records.[3]
Kirkgunzeon Community Council is one of 23 community councils in the Stewartry district.[5] The community council serves an estimated population of 319.[6] The maximum number of voting members of the community council is 11.[6]
Kirkgunzeon Primary School serves the village and surrounding area as well as children from the district of Beeswing.[8] The school is partnered with Colvend Primary School and Palnackie Primary School; these schools share a headteacher.[8] Children from Kirkgunzeon attend Dalbeattie Primary School Nursery.[9]
The present school building was built in 1964.[8] It is a single storey building, with two classrooms.[8] It has capacity for 47 pupils.[10] The previous school building, now a dwelling, was on the other side of the river in the original village of Kirkgunzeon.[11] It served pupils up to the statutory leaving age from the start of compulsory education in 1872 until 1945, after which it became a primary school.[11]
The First Statistical Account of 1791-99 records one school and one school master in the parish.[12] The Second Statistical Account, written in 1844, notes that there was also a school "at the lower end of the parish", built by the farmers at their own expense.[13]
Religious sites
Kirkgunzeon Parish Church held its final service on Sunday, 13 October 2013.[14] The Church of Scotland congregations of Kirkgunzeon and Dalbeattie parishes were officially joined on Wednesday, 16 October 2013.[14] Kirkgunzeon had previously been linked with Lochend and New Abbey church of Scotland on 24 June 2009.[15] This link was severed on 25 September 2013.[15]
On 4 August 2015 Dumfries and Galloway Council received an application to alter the church building to a dwelling.[16]
^Clancy, Thomas Owen (2001). "The real St Ninian". The Innes Review. 52: 17, 20. doi:10.3366/inr.2001.52.1.1.
^Gillespie, J. E. (1912). "Notes on the Parish of Kirkgunzeon"(PDF). Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History Society. Second Series. XXIV. Archived from the original(PDF) on 31 August 2014.
^ abLindsay, Alan W. (1959). "Chapter 20: The Parish of Kirkgunzeon". In Laird, John; Ramsay, D.G. (eds.). The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. The Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Vol. 14: The Counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigtown. Glasgow: Collins (published 1965). p. 217.
^Crocket, John (1844). "Parish of Kirkgunzeon". The New Statistical Account of Scotland. Vol. 4. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons (published 1845). p. 222.
Reid, R. C. (1930). "The Early Ecclesiastical History of Kirkgunzeon"(PDF). Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Third Series. XIV. Archived from the original(PDF) on 31 August 2014.
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