Kilbirnie Auld Kirk is a
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...
congregation on Dalry Road (at Kirkland Road),
Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie ( Gaelic: ''Cill Bhraonaigh'') is a small town of 7,280 (as of 2001) inhabitants situated in the Garnock Valley area of North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is around southwest of Glasgow and approximately from Paisle ...
,
North Ayrshire,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. Although the building dates back to the 15th century, the present congregation was formed in 1978 by the amalgamation of the Glengarnock Parish Church and the Barony Church.
History
![Ladyland Loft, Kilbirnie church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Ladyland_Loft%2C_Kilbirnie_church.JPG)
Previously known as "The Barony Church", after the barony that had been obtained by John Craufurd of Kilbirnie in 1641, the church is constructed on the site of a 6th-century monastic cell. The town of Kilbirnie derives its name from the church. The name is Gaelic in origin and means "Church of
St Brendan" (the Gaelic ''cil'', pronounced 'kil', signifying a church, suffixed by the name of the saint). "Auld
Kirk
Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.
Basic meaning and etymology
As a common noun, ''kirk' ...
" in
Scots simply means Old Church.
The Craufurd tomb contains the effigies of Captain
Thomas Craufurd of Jordanhill and his wife
Janet ker of Kersland. Thomas died on 3 January 1603 having achieved fame through capturing Dumbarton Castle for King James VI, for which brave achievement he was given the lands of Jordanhill near Glasgow as a reward. The inscription on the tomb reads ''GOD SCHAW THE RICHT. HEIR LYIS THOMAS CRAUFURD OF IORDANHILL SEXT SON TO LAURENCE CRAUFURD OF KILBIRNY AND IONET KER HIS SPOUS ELDEST DOCHTER TO ROBERT FER OF KERRISLAND 1594''.
Architecture
The original nave dates from 1470, with a two-stage bell tower added twenty years later. Aisles were added in 1597 for the Cunninghames of Glengarnock and in 1642 for the Crawfords. A transept and new entrance front were added in 1903-05.
Image:Craufurds of Jordanhill in Kilbirnie.JPG, The viewing window in the 1594 tomb of Captain Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill.
Image:Craufurds Tomb in Kilbirnie Auld Kirk cemetery.JPG, The Crawfurd's tomb with the old Kirk in the background.
Image:Coat of arms and inscription - Craufurds of Jordanhill.JPG, Inscription and Coat of Arms on the Crawford tomb.
Image:Effigies of Craufurds of Jordanhill.JPG, Effigies of Thomas Crawfurd and Janet Kerr.
The church has some magnificent fittings, pride of place going to the elaborately detailed Crawford Loft of circa 1705, and to the 17th-century
sounding board above the pulpit. Many of the windows have been decorated in stained glass.
Image:Sundial on Gravestone at Kilbirnie.JPG, A very unusual gravestone bearing a sundial.
Image:Detail of Sundial at Kilbirnie Kirk.JPG, Detail of the sundial's inscription.
Image:Knox of Moorpark House Memorials.JPG, Knox of Place and other memorials.
File:Kilbirnie Parish Church - Lord's Loft.jpg, The Lord's Loft
"Kilbirnie Auld Kirk and Cemetery Walls" are a category 'A' listed historic building.
See also
*
Birnie Kirk
References
External links
:
Commentary & video on the Craufurd of Jordanhill tomb
{{Authority control
Church of Scotland churches in Scotland
Garnock Valley
Category A listed buildings in North Ayrshire
Listed churches in North Ayrshire