R - Religion

R–Religion  and  Robertland House

Stewarton and District has quite a number of churches.

Dunlop :

Dunlop Parish Church  the present church dates from 1835, though the sculptured stonework of the Dunlop Aisle is dated 1641.

Fenwick:

Fenwick Parish Church was built 1643 in the shape of a Greek cross

Kilmaurs :

St. Maur's Glencairn Parish Church

The medieval church at Kilmaurs was in the possession of Kelso Abbey as early as 1170. The building was substantially rebuilt, in the 1730s, and then rebuilt again, this time in a Perpendicular Gothic style in a cruciform plan in 1888. The adjacent Glencairn Aisle was once part of the medieval church, but narrowly detached during the 1730s rebuild.

Stewarton :

The Laigh Church( now St Columba’s Parish Church )  built 1696

John Knox Church Built 1842

Cairns Church Built 1827 demolished 1962

United Reform Church Reformed in 2002 and moved into it’s current premises in 2018

Our Lady and St. JohnChurch  Founded 1974, Closed 2019

Potters House Church Services held within the Stewarton Area Centre

The Stewarton Case

In the 19th century the Stewarton became famous when the Stewarton case led to what was termed the distraction of Scottish church circles the problem arose when the local disruption in Scottish church circles as to who should be afforded membership of a newly built church (Cairns Church) in the town became a National issue within the church of Scotland. After a three year wrangle the matter was eventually resolved in 1843 by the decision of the House of Lords.

Robertland house and estate. Alexander Kerr, a Stewartonian tobacco entrepreneur, purchased Robertland in around 1813, built the present house in 1820 and after his death his son John James inherited and leased Robertland to a series of tenants. In 1914 the House was caught up in the Suffragettes movement and destroyed by an arson attack. The perpetrators were apprehended and the house was rebuilt as it looks today.