Loudoun Kirk
Encyclopedia
Loudoun Kirk is a disused church located about one mile west of Loudoun Castle
, East Ayrshire
. It served as Loudoun's
parish church
until some point after 1600, when this function moved to the church in nearby Newmilns
. It subsequently fell into a state of disrepair, however since 1994 has been preserved by a local charity, Friends Of Loudoun Kirk.
worship in the surrounding area. It is widely regarded as having been founded in 1451, with most local historians taking this date from an 1890 translation of the Latin
text, Muniments of the Royal Burgh of Irvine. Recently however, local historian Alastair Hendry unearthed a letter referring to church rents dating prior to 1451. After retranslating the Muniments of Irvine, he dated Loudoun Kirk to 1198. At or soon after its foundation, the revenues of Loudoun Kirk, were allocated to support the monks of the newly founded Kilwinning Abbey
, however they were obliged to provide a priest (curate) to attend to the spiritual needs of the parishioners.
During the Campbell verus Kennedy feuds of 1527/8, Loudoun Kirk was badly damaged, but soon rebuilt. In 1530, in recognition of the shift in population, a chapel was built at Newmilns
. Loudoun Kirk remained the parish church until at least the 17th century, at which time the
chapel in Newmilns was upgraded to parochial status. Loudoun Kirk and its kirkyard continued in use for occasional church services, but more particularly as the last resting-place of generations of the parishioners of Loudoun. The building was repaired in 1898 by the Third Marquis of Bute.
(1st Earl of Loudoun), John Campbell
(4th Earl of Loudoun), Lady Flora Hastings
, Janet Little
(Scots' poet, known as The Scottish Milkmaid) and Thomas Fleming (Covenanter, killed at the Battle of Drumclog
).
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira and Marquess of Hastings, died on 28th November 1826 aboard H.M.S. Revenge off Naples
and following his directions his right hand was cut off and buried with his wife, Flora Mure-Campbell, Marchioness of Hastings and 6th Countess of Loudoun (1780 – 8 January 1840) who was the second daughter of James Mure-Campbell, 5th Earl of Loudoun and Lady Flora Macleod. This wish was complied with, and his hand now rest clasped with hers in the family vault.
Recently, Friends of Loudoun Kirk completed a survey of the headstones and plaques found within the graveyard, with the findings being made available to the public via digital media
.
still survived in 1894, having originally been sent to the parishioners from Holland by the 2nd Earl of Loudoun
, James Campbell. It had Loudoun Kirk cast in raised lettering and was used at funeral processions; it was held by Mrs Semple at Loudoun Village in 1875.
(then Captain), was stationed at Loudoun Castle to train for the D-Day Landings
of the same year. Members of the 5th SAS returned for 50th anniversary celebrations on 07 November 1994 and during the course of this, gifted money to Friends of Loudoun Kirk under the proviso that it be used to erect a plaque on the wall of Loudoun Kirk, bearing the words - In memory of all members of the Belgian Special Air Service Regiment who under the command of Colonel E. Blondeel, D.S.O. were stationed at Loudoun Castle during 1944 and who wish to express their gratitude for the hospitality and friendship extended to them by the Loudoun Family and the people of Scotland. November 27th, 1994.
and the village was abandoned. Foundations of the cottages can be seen in local fields close to the lane. A plan to build a new village in the 1990s came to nothing.
Loudoun Castle
Loudoun Castle is a ruined 19th century country house near Galston, in the Loudoun area of Ayrshire, Scotland. The ruins are protected as a category A listed building.-History:...
, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
. It served as Loudoun's
Loudoun
Loudoun is an area of East Ayrshire, Scotland, east of Kilmarnock. The word Loudoun is a derivative of the Celtic Pagan God name Lugus.Loudoun is a parish and is named after the former village which stood north of Galston. The area is commonly referred to as the "Irvine Valley", for the River...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
until some point after 1600, when this function moved to the church in nearby Newmilns
Newmilns
Newmilns and Greenholm is a small burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It has a population of 3,057 people and lies on the A71, around seven miles east of Kilmarnock and twenty-five miles southwest of Glasgow...
. It subsequently fell into a state of disrepair, however since 1994 has been preserved by a local charity, Friends Of Loudoun Kirk.
Early history
The establishment of Loudoun Kirk marks the earliest known ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
worship in the surrounding area. It is widely regarded as having been founded in 1451, with most local historians taking this date from an 1890 translation of the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text, Muniments of the Royal Burgh of Irvine. Recently however, local historian Alastair Hendry unearthed a letter referring to church rents dating prior to 1451. After retranslating the Muniments of Irvine, he dated Loudoun Kirk to 1198. At or soon after its foundation, the revenues of Loudoun Kirk, were allocated to support the monks of the newly founded Kilwinning Abbey
Kilwinning Abbey
Kilwinning Abbey is a ruined abbey located in the centre of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.-The establishment of the Abbey:The ancient name of the town is 'Segdoune' or 'Saigtown', probably derived from 'Sanctoun', meaning the 'town of the saint'. Saint Winnings festival was on 21 January...
, however they were obliged to provide a priest (curate) to attend to the spiritual needs of the parishioners.
During the Campbell verus Kennedy feuds of 1527/8, Loudoun Kirk was badly damaged, but soon rebuilt. In 1530, in recognition of the shift in population, a chapel was built at Newmilns
Newmilns
Newmilns and Greenholm is a small burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It has a population of 3,057 people and lies on the A71, around seven miles east of Kilmarnock and twenty-five miles southwest of Glasgow...
. Loudoun Kirk remained the parish church until at least the 17th century, at which time the
chapel in Newmilns was upgraded to parochial status. Loudoun Kirk and its kirkyard continued in use for occasional church services, but more particularly as the last resting-place of generations of the parishioners of Loudoun. The building was repaired in 1898 by the Third Marquis of Bute.
Ministers
During the Covenanting times (1638-88), the Rev. John Nevoy of Loudoun Kirk was the chaplain to the Covenanter army led by General Leslie who were fighting the Irish MacDonnels who had invaded the west of Scotland. In 1647 the fortress of Dunaverty was taken and at Nevoy's urging the entire Irish garrison were driven over a cliff to their deaths.Graveyard
Loudoun Kirk's vault and surrounding graveyard served as a burial site for both Loudoun's nobility & locals. Amongst those interred are John CampbellJohn Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun
John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun was a Scottish politician. He was the eldest son of James Campbell of LawersJohn Campbell married Margaret, the daughter of George Campbell around 1620. Margaret was heir to her grandfather Hugh Campbell, first Lord Loudoun, who resigned his peerage in John's...
(1st Earl of Loudoun), John Campbell
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
Major-General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun was a British nobleman and army officer.-Early career:Campbell inherited the peerage on the death of his father in 1731, becoming Lord Loudoun. The earl raised a regiment of infantry that took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 on the side of the...
(4th Earl of Loudoun), Lady Flora Hastings
Lady Flora Hastings
Lady Flora Elizabeth Rawdon-Hastings was a British aristocrat and lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, whose death in 1839 caused a court scandal that gave the Queen a negative image....
, Janet Little
Janet Little
Janet Little, later Janet Richmond, , known as The Scotch Milkmaid, was a Scottish poet who wrote in the Scots language. Born in Ecclefechan, she enjoyed a "common education" and, as an assistant to local clergy, was able to exercise her love of reading and writing. By the 1780s she had gained a...
(Scots' poet, known as The Scottish Milkmaid) and Thomas Fleming (Covenanter, killed at the Battle of Drumclog
Battle of Drumclog
The Battle of Drumclog was fought on 1 June 1679, between a group of Covenanters and the forces of John Graham of Claverhouse, at High Drumclog, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.- The battle :...
).
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira and Marquess of Hastings, died on 28th November 1826 aboard H.M.S. Revenge off Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and following his directions his right hand was cut off and buried with his wife, Flora Mure-Campbell, Marchioness of Hastings and 6th Countess of Loudoun (1780 – 8 January 1840) who was the second daughter of James Mure-Campbell, 5th Earl of Loudoun and Lady Flora Macleod. This wish was complied with, and his hand now rest clasped with hers in the family vault.
Recently, Friends of Loudoun Kirk completed a survey of the headstones and plaques found within the graveyard, with the findings being made available to the public via digital media
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
.
Dead bell
The Loudoun Kirk dead bellDead bell
A Dead bell or deid bell , also a 'death', 'mort', 'lych', 'passing bell' or 'skellet bell' was a form of hand bell used in Scotland and northern England. in conjunction with deaths and funerals up until the 19th century.-Origins:...
still survived in 1894, having originally been sent to the parishioners from Holland by the 2nd Earl of Loudoun
Earl of Loudoun
Earl of Loudoun , named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchline....
, James Campbell. It had Loudoun Kirk cast in raised lettering and was used at funeral processions; it was held by Mrs Semple at Loudoun Village in 1875.
Belgian SAS
In February 1944, the 5th SAS, under Lieutenant-Colonel Eddy BlondeelEddy Blondeel
Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. Edouard "Eddy" Blondeel DSO was the wartime commander of the Belgian 5th SAS. After the war he was first C.O. of the 1st Regiment of Parachutists. He retired from the army in 1947 to work as an engineer with Wiggins Teape.-Early life:Eddy Blondeel was born in Ghent on 25...
(then Captain), was stationed at Loudoun Castle to train for the D-Day Landings
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
of the same year. Members of the 5th SAS returned for 50th anniversary celebrations on 07 November 1994 and during the course of this, gifted money to Friends of Loudoun Kirk under the proviso that it be used to erect a plaque on the wall of Loudoun Kirk, bearing the words - In memory of all members of the Belgian Special Air Service Regiment who under the command of Colonel E. Blondeel, D.S.O. were stationed at Loudoun Castle during 1944 and who wish to express their gratitude for the hospitality and friendship extended to them by the Loudoun Family and the people of Scotland. November 27th, 1994.
Loudoun Village
The old kirk is situated next to the site of the villlage of Loudoun. The village was occupied by local miners, but after the Second World War the houses fell into disrepair. With no mains gas or electricity supply, the residents were moved into the new houses in GalstonGalston
Settlements named Galston:* Galston, East Ayrshire, is a town near Kilmarnock in Scotland * Galston, New South Wales, is a town near Sydney in AustraliaPersons named Galston:* William Galston, American philosopher and politician....
and the village was abandoned. Foundations of the cottages can be seen in local fields close to the lane. A plan to build a new village in the 1990s came to nothing.
Further Study
- Bobby Young, F.O.L.K., 1995
- Friends Of Loudoun Kirk