Ayr Auld Kirk

Overview

The Auld Kirk was built on land previously occupied by a priory of the Franciscan order, the Grey Friars, who came to Ayr around 1472 and remained until the order was dissolved at the Reformation in 1560. The present church was built in 1652-1655 with money from the people of Ayr and 1,000 merks of 'conscience money' from Cromwell's Army, in recompense for the loss of the old Church of St. John. The document promising to pay this money, signed by Colonel Alured, the Commanding Officer of the garrison at Ayr is preserved within the Auld Kirk.

Also inside the Church is the pew where Robert Burns' father, William Burness, is believed to have sat each Sunday and where possibly the young Robert formed his first impressions of the Kirk. It is believed that Robert Burns was baptized in the kirk.

There are many areas of interest in and around the Kirk. Beautiful stained glass windows adorn the building. There is a lych-gate erected in 1656 which is an unusual feature in a Scottish church. Hanging on each side of the archway you will see a mortsafe. These were used to protect newly buried corpses from the body snatchers who often robbed the graves to supply medical schools. This practice ceased after the Anatomy Act of 1832.

The gravestones themselves tell many a tale about those who have gone before.
Within the kirkyard lies a headstone dedicated to John Aitken, chief patron to whom Robert Burns dedicated the "Cotters Saturday Night". There are many interesting sculptured headstones, the finest of which is a large rotund image of the church's first minister, William Adair, kneeling in prayer. There is also a headstone dedicated to the Covenanters, next to the boundary wall at the edge of the river. It was erected in memory of seven local men who were hanged at Ayr in 1666 for their part in the Pentland Rising.

There is a panel in the lych-gate which identifies the graves of many contemporaries of Robert Burns.

This is a superb attraction for those interested in Scottish history.

Operated by South Ayrshire Council