Church Overview

The Parish ​Church of Kilwinning was built in 1773-75, by stonemasons John Garland and John Swan, on the site of the Kilwinning Abbey, founded in 1188, and replaced the first Reformation church that was built here in the 1590s. It was constructed at the expense of local landowners the Earls of Eglinton and cost £546 to build, their family coat of arms and a date stone from 1593 were incorporated into the new building.

A free-standing clock tower was added in 1815 by famed Glasgow architect David Hamilton. Known as the Abbey Tower, it sits in the purlieu of the remaining ruins of the Abbey, and was built to replace the medieval tower which collapsed in 1813. In its belfry are the Town Bell and ‘the wee bell’ which is rung for Sunday Services at the kirk.

The historic strong links with the Earls of Eglinton, who at one time had the power to appoint its ministers in the church, can be seen inside too in what was once their own private gallery for their family and servants’ use during the Sunday services and more coats of arms in some of the magnificent stained glass. There are eleven beautiful stained glass windows in the kirk, created by a number of well-known artists and studios including Stephen Adam, Douglas Hamilton, Gordon Webster, W. & JJ Kier, William Meikle & Sons among others. One of the most unusual windows is a memorial to ten year old Alexander Stewart, installed by his grieving parents in 1912, which depicts a likeness of the youngster in the embrace of an angel and surrounded by animals.

A memorial screen, dedicated to members of the Cole-Hamilton family, inscribed with their crest and the seal of the Abbot of Kilwinning was installed in 1990 and a tapestry, created by members and friends of the church to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the founding of the abbey may be seen on the west wall. The magnificent 3-manual organ, built by the organ-building firm of Forster & Andrews of Hull, was first played on 29th December 1897 and is highly regarded, having been awarded a Grade One Historic Organ Certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies.

In 1929, following the reunification of the United Free Church and the Church of Scotland, the Old Parish Church became known as Kilwinning Abbey Church, to distinguish it from nearby Erskine and Mansfield Churches. Many locals will, however, refer to it still as the Old Parish Church. Kilwinning Abbey is also a Destination Hub on our St Ninian Pilgrim Journey and the church and halls are well used by the congregation and local organisations for special events and regular meetings.

Services

Sundays at 10.30am

Opening Arrangements

Sundays from 1-3pm and last Saturday of month from 1-3pm. Other times by arrangement.

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.