Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock

The Laigh Kirk stands in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, as a church with a modern sculpture called Homeless Jesus. Its site has held churches since at least the 15th century. The present building dates from 1802 and is the third on the same ground. The earliest part still visible is the tower base from 1410. Two men executed in Edinburgh in the 18th century were buried in the kirk’s graveyard after their heads were displayed outside. The church is known for a tragic event in 1801 when a stampede during a crowded service killed 29 people. The building was soon replaced with a larger one. The current minister, Rev. David Cameron, has served since 2001. The kirk also connects to Robert Stirling, inventor of the Stirling engine. Inside, visitors find the Homeless Jesus sculpture lying on a bench. The church’s interior is spacious and well-lit. Outside, the graveyard holds old stones and the tower base from the 15th century. The surrounding streets of Kilmarnock provide a quiet contrast to the building’s history.