Re-union of the Churches
In 1929 the Free Church and the established Church were re-united nationally and at that point Dundonald, like many other parishes in the country, had two established Churches. Our present church took the name Dundonald St Giles and the Free Church became Dundonald St Andrew’s. The parish was divided into two, with St Giles taking the area west of the main road through the village and St Andrew’s the east. This situation remained until the two churches reunited in 1943 as Dundonald Parish Church.
The union of the two churches in Dundonald was achieved with as much dignity as the original disruption. By 1942 both ministers, Mr Gillespie of St Giles and Mr Scott of St Andrews, were men of mature years who had completed long ministries in the village. With each of them ready for retirement there was an excellent opportunity to re-unite the churches and Rev Archie Beaton was selected as the new minister of Dundonald Parish Church. No doubt there were some rumblings of discontent from some quarters but the newly re-united church quickly settled down under the guidance of Mr Beaton.
The united congregation worshipped in the present Church and the St Andrews church building was adapted as a church hall for use by the Sunday School and other church organisations. It had a sloping floor designed to improve the view for the seated congregation but this did not prevent the hall being used for badminton. Indeed, the church had a very successful badminton team which remained undefeated in the local league for a number of years in the 1950s; indeed it was so successful that it was suspended from the league to give others a chance.
Some, the churlish perhaps, might say their success was due to their ability to adapt to the sloping floor but in truth they were a very skilful side. The hall floor was re-laid in the 1980s and the slope was removed. The observant might note that the heating pipes along the wall are not parallel with the floor, a reminder of the old floor. During the relaying a time capsule was placed under the floor. It contained a number of items selected by the Sunday School as being typical of the times.