Glencairn Aisle -  Kilmaurs

G – Glencairn Aisle

The Glencairn Isle or Glencairn vault at Kilmaurs East Ayrshire is a vaulted sepulchral Chapel built as a place for private contemplation and prayer and also contains a large memorial monument as well as the burial crypt for the Cunningham Earls of Glencairn and their family members. It houses an exceptionally ornately carved stone monument dated 1600 that commemorates James Cunningham the 7th Earl of Glencairn, his Countess Margaret Campbell and eight of his children. It is the oldest such monument in Ayrshire and the oldest post - reformation monument in Scotland. The other Ayrshire examples being the Bargany Aisle in Ballantrae circus 1601, The Skelmerly Aisle in Largs of 1639 and the Hamilton aisle at Dunlop of 1641

 The Aisle is associated with St. Maurs- Glencairn parish church that is dedicated to Saint Mora or Maura of Little Cumbrae and was gifted to Kelso Abbey in the 1170 by Robertus filli Wernebaldi, and ancestor of the Cunninghams in 1413, it was Endowed as a College of secular cannons with a Provost and several prebendairies. In 1600 James the 7th Earl Glencairn added the Glencairn Aisle or Vault to the then existing East – West orientated church building. In the aisle there is an aforementioned early 17th century mural monument commissioned by James, 7th Earl of Glencairn for himself, his countess Margaret, his children and close relatives.

 Memorial plaques to members of the cadet branches of Caprington, Corsehill and Robertland are also present on the walls.

Credit Roger Griffith