Crossmichael Parish Church, Round Tower And St Michael's Cross

Crossmichael Parish Church is a classified church building in the Scottish community of Crossmichael featuring a distinctive round tower and carefully crafted window details. The structure displays a characteristic T-shaped floor plan with cast-iron columns inside, decorative windows with timber divisions on the south side, and an adjoining churchyard containing well-preserved gravestones.

The church was constructed in 1751 with a T-shaped floor plan and incorporates a round tower dating from the late 16th century that underwent partial reconstruction at a later period. This building approach combines elements from different eras and shows how the structure developed and changed over generations.

The church displays regional architectural features with its distinctive round tower form, which recalls medieval defensive structures found in the Scottish countryside. Its simple exterior design reflects the Scottish church style of the period, while the interior preserves galleries and box pews that show how worshippers were arranged by social status during the 19th century.

The site is accessible during daylight hours and provides good lighting for viewing the architecture and gravestones in the churchyard. Comfortable shoes are recommended as the burial ground has uneven terrain with various sections to explore.

The bell tower dates to 1611 and represents one of only two similar structures in southwest Scotland, with its counterpart located at Portpatrick Parish Church. These two towers are rare examples of their kind in the region and showcase craftsmanship traditions that have survived nowhere else in the same way.

Location: Dumfries and Galloway

Location: Crossmichael

GPS coordinates: 54.98122,-3.98639

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:11