A converted church in Kirkcudbright is now on the market for £350,000, offering the chance to live in an historic and unique venue that has retained many of the original features.
Tarff Church, believed to date back to 1845, was the Parish church for the quiet village of Twynholm, not far from Kirkcudbright.
It is located in a beautiful spot close to the Old Mill Burn and surrounded by fields and woodland. The exterior of the building is still completely intact, with its attractive bell tower and arch windows still on show.
The church, originally owned by the Free Church of Scotland, was converted to residential use in 1997. It was bought by the present owners, Mr and Mrs Pinch, in 2000.
“When we moved in, it needed a lot of work. It was converted to a certain standard but we have improved it extensively.
“Some of the walls were unplastered, some doors missing. The garden was also very overgrown – and it took years of garden work, and we now have it to a certain standard,” said Kathleen Pinch.
Scottish churches are traditionally plain inside, but some of the period features retained include the balcony looking over a high-ceiling hall, a winding staircase and deep-set church windows.
The open plan living area has three arched windows which allow light to flood in. There was also a stained-glass window created as commemoration for the First World War which had to be taken out for renovation purposes, but which the owners have retained.
What was once the Sunday school building, which is joined to the church as a separate space, has the potential to be converted into an extra space or to create a self-contained dwelling as a guest house or for renting out.
Orlaith Brogan, spokesperson for SPC Scotland said: “Churches don’t come on the market very often, particularly ones that have been lovingly restored like this.
"The market is very buoyant at the moment, with the number of sales up on the previous year, so now could be a good time to make the move.”
Tarff church is on sale through Hewats solicitor estate agents, an SPC Scotland member firm.
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