Our building, designed by local architect Richard Park, opened as St. John’s Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1878. In 1971 its members left to join with nearby Penninghame Parish Church. After a brief spell as a jeans factory, it reopened as Newton Stewart Museum in 1978 thanks to the efforts of a team of local volunteers led by Helen Drew.
The museum is still run by volunteers and is a registered charitable trust.
We have a collection of over 10,000 items, nearly all of which have been donated by local people. Outside are larger items, many connected with farming. The largest indoor space where rows of pews would have sat in front of a pulpit, organ and communion table is now divided into different sections – nursery, tools, kitchen, blacksmith and many more. There is also a small museum shop.
There are two more rooms to see at the rear of the building – one was the chuch session room, once used for meetings and the other was the minister’s vestry. These rooms now our costume displays and many smaller personal items and toys.
In the gallery upstairs we keep an archive of original Galloway Gazette newspapers, documents, slides, maps, pictures and a small schoolroom exhibition.
We offer a quiz (with a prize!) for all ages, a community outreach service and a warm welcome to all.
The Museum Newton Stewart 