Barnweill Church

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Barnweill Church

Barnweill Parish Church (suppressed 1673)
Location Craigie, South Ayrshire
Country  Scotland
Denomination Protestant
History
Former name(s) 'Kirk in the Wood'
Dedication Originally to the Holy Rood
Events Significant links with John Knox
Architecture
Status Incumbent driven out in 1689
Functional status Cemetery in use until 1963
Heritage designation Category B listed
Closed 1689
Specifications
Materials Dressed stone and rubble
Administration
Parish Barnweill until 1673, then Craigie
Clergy
Minister(s) The Rev Robert Kincaid MA. Driven out 1689

Barnweill Church (NGR NS 40506 29903) is a ruined pre-reformation kirk situated on rising ground on the slopes of Barnweill Hill, Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland; about 3km from Tarbolton.[1] The church was known locally as the "Kirk in the Wood".[2] It lies about 170m North North-East of Kirkhill Farm. Barnweill was central to the Protestant Reformation in Ayrshire through its association with John Knox.[3]

History

Etymology

The name, also used as Barnwell,[4] Barnweil and Burnweill, first recorded as Berenbouell circa 1177-1204 and Brenwyfle in 1306,[1] is one of a cluster of names in this area that contains the Cymric place-name element pren-, meaning 'tree'.[5] Robert Gordon's map of circa 1636-5 marks a Barnwyl Kirk[6] and Blaeu's Atlas, from Timothy Pont's survey of about 1600, as the old Castle of Barnwyiel.

Tradition records that the name "Barnweill" derives from an incident following on from the burning of the English in the Barns of Ayr by William Wallace and references in Scots to the fact that The barns burn weil.[7][3] One author suggests a derivation from Bar-n-weild meaning The Hill of Streams.[3]

Links with Fail Monastery

Stone emblem of the Trinitarian Order on the façade of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1638-1641) in Rome.

The Parish of Barnweill, its church and incomes belonged to Fail Monastery up until the reformation in 1563.[8] Fail Monastery was held by the Trintarians, also known as the 'Red Friars', or 'Mathurines' from the monastery of Saint Mathurin in Paris.[8] The monks were charged with the duty of saving captives from slavery and were called 'The Father's of Redemption'.[8]

Parish history

A few scant records exist of a parish called "Balinclog" and it has been suggested that the foundation of Fail Monastery led to the lands of Barnweil being granted to the new foundation and the remainder of the old parish lands, "Barmuir", being incorporated into those of Tarbolton.[9]

The Parish of Barnweill, in the old District of Kyle, was suppressed in 1673 and the larger part of the stipend was transferred to the minister of the newly erected Parish of Stair. Nearby Craigie had been disjoined from the Parish of Riccarton in 1647, and in 1673, it received an augmentation by the annexation of the newly suppressed Parish of Barnweill.[10] It is said that the Earl of Stair was the prime mover in suppressing the parish because of the inconvenient horse ride he had to undertake to get to Barnweil Church from his home at Stair.[11] It was not until 1707 that the Presbytery annexed the old parish to that of Craigie and Tarbolton. Until 1707 the Minister of Stair had to preach under an oak tree on the Fulton Estate to lawfully qualify for the stipends of Barnweil..[11] A number of the old Barnweil parishioners joined the Symington Church.[11]

Through the connection with Fail Monastery, the churches of Barnweil and Symington were linked since the 13th century. The linked congregations of Symington and Craigie still gather at Barnweil Church each Easter at sunrise to celebrate the Resurrection.[11]

Ministers

In the early 1600s Robert Cunningham was the minister of Barnweill. His wife was Jean, daughter of Robert Hunter of Hunterston.[12]

In "An 'Advertistment' about the Service Book, 1637" an Alexander Henderson, is recorded as Minister at Barnweil,[13]

The Rev Robert Kincaid was the last incumbent of Barnweill and he was driven from the church in 1689, retiring to Glasgow where he died in 1691. His sister, Jean Kincaid, married the Rev John Bogle who was likewise driven from Dundonald, also in 1689.[14]

The Church

The moat of Barnweill Castle.
The East gable end of Barnweill church.

The small rectangular ruins (13.7m by 5.7m within walls 0.75m thick, reduced to about 1.5m in height) sit within a roughly square walled cemetery and are category B listed.[15] This pre-Reformation kirk is said to have been built about the beginning of the 15th century, but when the Parish was suppressed in circa 1673 when the kirk was allowed to gradually fall into ruins. This single storey building had an entrance in both the north and south walls; in the east gable is a segmental arched window which may support a 15th-century.[16] The existing building appears to be of 17th-century date,[17] however, the more substantial west gable that rises from a chamfered base-plinth with an offset at the height of the main wall-head, may also be medieval.[16]

Records show that in 1857 the ivy-covered gables stood to their original height, but the side walls were already almost level with the ground. Clear signs of 'recent' repairs and consolidation are apparent. The bell was still in place in the early 1800s and was taken away, eventually being given to the Scottish Episcopalian Chapel at Ayr in 1857. An upturned font was said to be in the west gable, although this may in fact be an aumbry or sacrament house.[16]

The cemetery

Coat of Arms of the Wallaces of Craigie Castle
Loudoun Kirk ruins, a similar pre-reformation Ayrshire Kirk.

The oldest legible tombstone, in the roughly square walled and tree encircled churchyard of about half an acre,[18] is dated 1661, although several others appear to be much older.[16] An ancient trackway runs to the church from the nearby lane close to ditches and earthworks[19] that may have been the site of Barnweill Castle.[20] This would have been the access for funeral processions as well as the congregation. The last burial appears to have been in 1963. At least two stones carry a raised shield device for a coat of arms and one is that of a lion, the bearing of the Wallaces of Craigie Castle. Gravestones bear the names Neil of Barnweill House, Brown of Barnweill, Glover, Anderson, Fraser, Reid, Greig, Millar, McCallum, Carrie, Lamont, etc.

One curiosity is a memorial to Col J W Neil Smith of Barnweill and Swindridgemuir that also bears the details of his wife Evelyn Mary Mapis Duke who died on June 21 1940. 'Tout comprendre c'est tout pardonner' is carved on this stone and on a smaller wooden cross that bears her details alone. Another curiosity is a small gravestone to 'Our Dear Frau' on a small fallen gravestone of 1911, isolated in a far corner and probably that of a family pet.

John Knox

John Knox is recorded as once having preached in Barnweill Church[21] and it is said that this church is notable in the history of Scotland as being the place where he first set up the Standard of the Reformation in Ayrshire.[3][11]

Micro-history

The old cemetery at Barnweill Church.

The arrangement of a church located nearby to a fortified house was a common one in Ayrshire.[22]

The village of Barnweill no longer exists, however old maps record the Townhead, Midtown and Townend of Barnweill dwellings in the vicinity along the length of the 'loaning' or roading.[18]

The 'Domestic Annals of Scotland' for Queen Anne (1702-1714) record that 'Some ill—disposed persons, said to be of the suppressed Parish of Barnweil, set fire to the new church of Stair in the night-time.[23]

The Witch of Barnweill was a woman from the old Parish of Barnweill who was burned in Ayr in 1586/7. The gruesome expenses are recorded in the Ayr Burgh accounts as being £7 3s 8d for candles, drink, and meat as well as pitch, coals, heather, trees and other items.[24]

The Barony of Barnweill was held by the Hamilton and Wallace families.[18]

Underwood House was once known as Nether Barnweill.[25]

See also

References

Notes;

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Campbell, Page 141
  2. ↑ McIntyre Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 MacIntosh, Page 227
  4. ↑ Groome, Page 130
  5. ↑ Place-names in the Land o'Burns Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  6. ↑ Robert Gordon's Map Retrieved : 2010-11-18
  7. ↑ McMichael, Page 50
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Paterson, V.II, Page 758
  9. ↑ Tracking down a lost Parish. Accessed: 2010-07-03
  10. ↑ British history Online Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Nimmo, Page 27
  12. ↑ Scrimgeour family Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  13. ↑ JSTOR Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  14. ↑ Scottish episcopal clergy Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  15. ↑ British Listed Buildings Retrieved : 2010-11-14
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Canmore Retrieved : 2010-11-14
  17. ↑ Close, Page 54
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Paterson, Page 265
  19. ↑ Smith, Page 128
  20. ↑ Love (2003), Page 211
  21. ↑ Symington Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  22. ↑ Allan, Page 52
  23. ↑ Domestic Annals of Scotland Retrieved : 2010-11-13
  24. ↑ Love (2009), Page 138
  25. ↑ Davis, Page 397

Sources;

  1. Adamson, Archibald R. (1875). Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock : T. Stevenson.
  2. Allan, Shiela et al. (2003). Historic Prestwick and its surroundings. Ayr: AANHS. ISBN 0-9542253-1-7.
  3. Campbell, Thorbjørn (2003). Ayrshire. A Historical Guide. Edinburgh : Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-267-0
  4. Close, Robert (1992), Ayrshire and Arran: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Roy Inc Arch Scot. ISBN 1-873190-06-9.
  5. Davis, Michael C. (1991). The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire. Ardrishaig : Spindrift Press.
  6. Groome, Francis H. (1903). Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. London : Caxton Publishing Company.
  7. Love, Dane (2003). Ayrshire : Discovering a County. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
  8. Love, Dane (2009). Legendary Ayrshire. Custom : Folklore : Tradition. Auchinleck : Carn. ISBN 978-0-9518128-6-0
  9. MacIntosh, John (1894). Ayrshire Nights' Entertainments. Kilmarnock : Dunlop and Drennan.
  10. McMichael, George (c. 1881 - 1890). Notes on the Way Through Ayrshire and the Land of Burn, Wallace, Henry the Minstrel, and Covenant Martyrs. Hugh Henry : Ayr.
  11. Nimmo, John W. (2003). Symington Village, Church and People. Darvel : Alloway Publishing. ISBN 0-907526-82-9.
  12. Paterson, James (1863-66). History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. V. - III - Cunninghame. Edinburgh: J. Stillie.
  13. Paterson, James (1863-66). History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. V. - I - Kyle - Part 1. Edinburgh: J. Stillie.
  14. Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. London : Elliot Stock.
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Coordinates: 55°32′12″N 4°31′44″W / 55.5367°N 4.5289°W / 55.5367; -4.5289

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