Rutherford’s Monument

In 1838, a campaign was initiated to raise funds to construct a monument to Samuel Rutherford, who had been minister at Anwoth Old Church in the seventeenth century. By 1842 enough money had been raised, and the structure was built by the mason John Stewart and his firm J & J Stewart. It was struck by lightning in 1847 and largely destroyed; fundraising began again to restore it, and by 1851 there was sufficient money to engage Robert Hume, a lighthouse builder, to implement the repairs. In 1971, the monument was designated a Category B listed building. By the early twenty-first century, the uppermost layers of stone had become loose, and it was feared that the structure might collapse. In…

]] The monument stands on Boreland Hill, between Anwoth and Gatehouse of Fleet. It is an obelisk, 56 ft high, made of polished granite and mounted upon a square, corniced base. On its south face, it bears an inscription commemorating Samuel Rutherford, which reads: <blockquote> To the memory of the Rev. Samuel Rutherford Minister of the parish of Anwoth from 1627 to 1639 when he was appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of St Andrews where he died 1661. This monument was erected A.D. 1842 in admiration of his eminent talents, extensive learning, ardent piety, ministerial faithfulness and distinguished public labours in the cause of civil and religious liberty. The righteous…