Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society announced their initiative at the start of the year with a call for volunteers.
And it’s now seven months in and 50 per cent complete.
Offering an update, organiser Terry Brown said: “In March we announced the launch of our Graveyard Photographic Project, a massive task which wil be a snapshot of our local history.
“Thirty eight volunteers agreed to join our project but no sooner had we started than we were hit with the Covid 19 pandemic and lockdown.
“Some of our intrepid volunteers decided that they could do their daily exercise and isolation in a local graveyard! We must thank them for all their wonderful efforts as we have photographed 50 per cent of our 238 graveyards.
“We never thought we would be this far advanced, so quickly. This is wonderful and will continue into next year.”
He revealed that most of the graveyards in Dumfriesshire and the east and south of Kirkcudbrightshire have been done.
And there are now over 50,000 photos in the archive, all available to view at the research centre in Dumfries when it reopens.
In addition, they have started a new graveyard transcription project so there is a record of what is written on all the stones.
Appealing for helpers, Terry said: “Transcribing the stones can be done by anyone, worldwide, in the comfort of their own home on their own computer.
“As we enter winter with wet days and dark night, plus the possibility of a resurgence of covid, many of us will be looking for a way to keep busy.”
To get involved, email [email protected].
Meanwhile, the society has updated its list of publications and now has information on Canonbie, Applegarth and Sibbaldbie, Closeburn, Dalton, Dryfesdale, Dunscore, Durisdeer, Gretna, Half Morton, Tower of Sark, Johnstone, Kirkmichael, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Langholm Old, Langholm Staplegordon, Langholm Wauchope, Mouswald, St Mungo, Torthorwald, Tundergarth, Wamphray, Westerkirk, Lochmaben, Annan Old and Sanquhar.
