Wee Kirk o’ the Heather

Wee Kirk o’ the Heather. . , This picturesque little church takes us back to the night when Douglas of Finland stood beneath Annie Laurie's window and sang to her the romantic love song which has since been sung and loved the world over. The Wee Kirk o’ the Heather pays tribute to the seventeenth century kirk where Annie Laurie worshipped during her lifetime in Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. This reconstruction was made possible through the cooperation of Brigadier-General Charles Gates Dawes, who at that time was United States Ambassador to Great Britain and a former Vice-President of the United States, and John Wilson Paterson, Chief Architect of His Majesty's Office of Works. , Annie Laurie was born at Maxwelton in 1682, the daughter of Sir Robert Laurie, a Scottish Baronet. Noted for her beauty and charm, she had many suitors, and Douglas of Finland was among them. Because Douglas was of an opposing clan, Sir Robert bitterly opposed the courtship. Unable to see his sweetheart, Douglas one night stood beneath the window of the room in which her father had imprisoned her and sang to her the impassioned and beautiful song of love which bears her name. Shortly afterward, he enlisted, and although he died on the battlefield of Flanders, his song and his Annie Laurie have become immortal. , "Maxwelton's braes are bonnie , Where early fa's the dew , And twas there that Annie Laurie , Gi’ed me her promise true." , Communion tokens, examples of which Annie Laurie used more than two hundred and fifty years ago, along with her image, and a copy of her will and scenes at Maxwelton, are in the historical room in the Wee Kirk o' the Heather. , The Wee Kirk o’ the Heather is non-denominational and welcomes all faiths.