Kilbirnie Parish Church And Cemetery

Kilbirnie Parish Church and Cemetery

This church has a complicated building history spanning from 1470 to the 20th century. The core of the building is a rectangular nave, built in 1470 from coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. A two-stage tower with a set-off was added at the west in 1490. Both the nave and tower feature later saw-tooth skews, and a birdcage bellcote sits at the apex of the tower gable, possibly dating to the mid-18th century, with a pyramidal roof of similar detail. All other extensions have crowstepped gables.

A south-east aisle was built in 1597 for Sir John Cunninghame of Glengarnock Castle. This aisle features a heavily moulded mullioned and transomed window with a crest in a panel above. A Crawford aisle was added at the north-east in 1642, with a paired lancet window serving a gallery. To the east of the Crawford aisle, a transept and entrance were added in 1903–5, designed by architect Charles S.S. Johnson of Edinburgh.

The exterior includes a low door at the left side, and a shallow advanced gable to the east with a tripartite design and a raised central light serving the gallery, with mouldings imitating the Cunninghame aisle window. At the east end stands a small drum stairtower with a projecting entrance and a window breaking through the moulded eaves. An organ chamber designed by Charles S.S. Johnson was added in 1910 to the north-west of the Cunninghame aisle, continuing that aisle's architectural details. Slate roofs cover throughout.

The interior contains a Crawford gallery dating to circa 1705, commissioned by the 1st Viscount Garnock. The laird's loft features elaborate Renaissance detailing and is supported on Roman Doric columns. The bowed gallery front is divided by paired engaged Corinthian columns forming a blind arcade, with elaborate coats of arms depicting family lineage carved beneath each arch. A Corinthian columned screen divides the gallery, with a bold box cornice featuring highly decorative modillion work. A canopy is supported on giant Corinthian columns.

The pulpit is mainly 18th century in date but incorporates earlier details and is constructed of panelled pine. It has a reading desk supported on brackets carved with faces, and a baptismal basin with a wrought-iron bracket. A panelled rear screen with two Ionic pilasters supports an entablature surmounted by Crawford and Lindsay arms in a foliated design. Above this stands a large oak pedimented sounding board, probably from the 17th century, carved with an angel, cherubs, foliage, a thistle, and a rose.

The Ladyland pew is partly oak and partly pine, featuring delicate balustrade work and incorporating late 17th and early 18th-century carving. It has a bracketed hood with elaborate scrolls and a pediment with acroterion. A balcony inserted in 1903–5 links the Crawford gallery to the south wall and was added when seating was reorganised; it is fronted with trades and crafts panels in a style similar to the gallery.

The cemetery is enclosed by rubble-built walls containing some early tombstones and a rectangular Crawford tomb of 1594 housing recumbent effigies of Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill and his wife Janet Ker of Kersland.

The church remains in ecclesiastical use.