Kilbirnie Auld Kirk

Kilbirnie Auld Kirk stands on Dalry Road in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire. The building began as a 15th-century church and later became known as the Barony Church after John Craufurd received the barony in 1641. It occupies the site of a 6th-century monastic cell and gave the town its name, derived from the Gaelic for ‘Church of St Brendan’. The present congregation formed in 1978 when Glengarnock Parish Church and Barony Church merged, though services now take place at Kilbirnie New Parish Church. The church’s exterior shows layers from different centuries, with a nave from 1470 and a bell tower added twenty years later. Inside, visitors find aisles added for local families, a transept and entrance front from the early 20th century, and well-preserved fittings. The site is worth visiting for its historic layers and notable monuments. The Craufurd tomb holds effigies of Captain Thomas Craufurd and his wife Janet Ker, who died in 1603 after he captured Dumbarton Castle for King James VI. The inscription on the tomb reads ‘GOD SCHAW THE RICHT’, marking his burial place. The Crawford Loft, dated around 1705, and the 17th-century sounding board above the pulpit are fine examples of church craftsmanship. The building is category A listed, recognising its national importance. Stained glass windows add colour to the interior, and the churchyard walls contribute to the setting. A visitor finds a quiet churchyard with the old kirk at its heart. The nave and aisles show the church’s growth over centuries, while the bell tower rises above the roofline. Inside, the Crawford Loft and sounding board draw the eye, and stained glass catches the light. The Craufurd tomb stands near the entrance, its carved figures and inscription telling a story of service and reward. The surrounding cemetery walls enclose a peaceful space, with older stones beside more recent memorials. The building’s varied architecture reflects its long history and changing needs.