Barnweill Church
Encyclopedia
Barnweill Church 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
. The church was known locally as the "Kirk in the Wood". 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
.
'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. One author suggests a derivation from Bar-n-weild meaning The Hill of Streams.
up until the reformation in 1563. Fail Monastery was held by the Trintarians
, also known as the 'Red Friars', or 'Mathurines' from the monastery of Saint Mathurin in Paris. The monks were charged with the duty of saving captives from slavery and were called 'The Father's of Redemption'.
.
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. 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. 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 quailfy for the stipends of Barnweil.. A number of the old Barnweil parishioners joined the Symington Church
.
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 eash Easter at sunrise to celebrate the Reseurrection.
In "An 'Advertistment' about the Service Book, 1637" an Alexander Henderson, is recorded as Minister at Barnweil,
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.
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.
The oldest legible tombstone, in the roughly square walled and tree encircled churchyard of about half an acre, is dated 1661, although several others appear to be much older. An ancient trackway runs to the church from the nearby lane close to ditches and earthworks that may have been the site of Barnweill Castle. 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.
in Ayrshire.
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.
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.
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.
The Barony of Barnweill was held by the Hamilton and Wallace families.
Underwood House was once known as Nether Barnweill.
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
, Scotland; about 3km from Tarbolton
Tarbolton
Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.- Meaning of place-name :Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of three meanings:...
. The church was known locally as the "Kirk in the Wood". 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
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
.
Etymology
The name, also used as Barnwell, Barnweil and Burnweill, first recorded as Berenbouell circa 1177-1204 and Brenwyfle in 1306, is one of a cluster of names in this area that contains the Cymric place-name element pren-, meaning 'tree'. Robert Gordon's map of circa 1636-5 marks a Barnwyl Kirk and Blaeu's Atlas, from Timothy PontTimothy Pont
Timothy Pont was a Scottish topographer, the first to produce a detailed map of Scotland. Pont's maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European country in minute detail, from an actual survey.-Life:...
'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
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
and references in Scots
Scots
Scots may refer to:*The Scottish people, the inhabitants of Scotland*Scots language *Scotch-Irish*Scottish English*Scots pine, a Scottish tree*Short for Pound Scots...
to the fact that The barns burn weil. One author suggests a derivation from Bar-n-weild meaning The Hill of Streams.
Links with Fail Monastery
The Parish of Barnweill, its church and incomes belonged to Fail MonasteryFail Monastery
Fail Monstery, occasionally known as Failford Abbey, had a dedication to 'Saint Mary', and was located at Fail on the bank of the Water of Fail, Parish of Tarbolton near the town of Tarbolton, South Ayrshire...
up until the reformation in 1563. Fail Monastery was held by the Trintarians
Trinitarian Order
The Order of the Holy Trinity is a Catholic religious order that was founded in the area of Cerfroid, some 80 km northeast of Paris, at the end of the twelfth century. The founder was St. John de Matha, whose feast day is celebrated on 17 December...
, also known as the 'Red Friars', or 'Mathurines' from the monastery of Saint Mathurin in Paris. The monks were charged with the duty of saving captives from slavery and were called 'The Father's of Redemption'.
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 TarboltonTarbolton
Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.- Meaning of place-name :Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of three meanings:...
.
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
Riccarton, Ayrshire
Riccarton is a village and parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies across the River Irvine from Kilmarnock. The river Irvine divides the parishes of Riccarton and Kilmarnock and the river used to form the boundary between the districts of Kyle and Cunninghame.- History :The village became a...
in 1647, and in 1673, it received an augmentation by the annexation of the newly suppressed Parish of Barnweill. 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. 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 quailfy for the stipends of Barnweil.. A number of the old Barnweil parishioners joined the Symington Church
Symington, South Ayrshire
Symington is a conservation village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located in Symington Parish, covering 0.41sq Km, and lies close to the A77 road from Ayr to Glasgow...
.
Through the connection with Fail Monastery
Fail Monastery
Fail Monstery, occasionally known as Failford Abbey, had a dedication to 'Saint Mary', and was located at Fail on the bank of the Water of Fail, Parish of Tarbolton near the town of Tarbolton, South Ayrshire...
the churches of Barnweil and Symington were linked since the 13th century. The linked congregations of Symington and Craigie still gather at Barnweil Church eash Easter at sunrise to celebrate the Reseurrection.
Ministers
In the early 1600s Robert Cunningham was the minister of Barnweill. His wife was Jean, daughter of Robert Hunter of Hunterston.In "An 'Advertistment' about the Service Book, 1637" an Alexander Henderson, is recorded as Minister at Barnweil,
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
Dundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
, also in 1689.
The 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. 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. The existing building appears to be of 17th-century date, 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.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
Aumbry
In the Middle Ages an aumbry was a cabinet in the wall of a Christian church or in the sacristy which was used to store chalices and other vessels, as well as for the reserved sacrament, the consecrated elements from the Eucharist. This latter use was infrequent in pre-Reformation churches,...
or sacrament house.
The cemetery
Craigie Castle, Ayrshire
Craigie Castle in the old Barony of Craigie, is a ruined fortification situated about southeast of Kilmarnock and southeast of Craigie village, in the Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland....
. 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 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 ReformationScottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
in Ayrshire.
Micro-history
The arrangement of a church located nearby to a fortified house was a common one in Ayrshire.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.
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.
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.
The Barony of Barnweill was held by the Hamilton and Wallace families.
Underwood House was once known as Nether Barnweill.