Laigh Kirk (Kilmarnock)
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The Laigh Kirk is a classicist church building of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock in the East Ayrshire council area . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. The church is still in use as such.
history
In the 13th century, a church building of the same name was erected at or near the location of Laigh Kirk. Laigh is the Scottish spelling of the word "Low" and refers to the location in the lower town. A plaque on today's bell tower shows its year of construction as 1410. Based on the structure of the building, this year can be excluded for today's tower, which is dated to the 17th century. However, the panel may come from a previous building. After the church was considered too small for the growing community in 1731, a larger new building was built in 1750.
After the stability of the building had been questioned for some time, an accident happened on October 18, 1801. The church was overcrowded at this point as the parish offices of various surrounding churches, including the Old High Kirk , were vacant and many believers from other districts flocked to the Laigh Kirk. Shortly before the beginning of the service, part of the stucco decoration came off the ceiling, whereupon the believers, expecting the collapse, left the building in panic. A total of 30 people were killed as a result of the panic. A subsequent static test came to the conclusion that the roof structure was possibly not able to withstand the load, but that a collapse was not inherent. Even so, the building was abandoned and torn down.
In the following year the foundation stone of today's church was laid. This was designed larger and equipped with seven wide doors to ensure safe evacuation of the church. As part of the construction work, a Romanesque altar from a previous building was uncovered. In 1831 the Laigh Kirk was enlarged in 1853 with a bell. An organ was installed in 1877 and replaced in the 1920s. The building was later extensively restored and modernized. The most recent modernization was carried out in the 1990s. The bell tower from the 17th century is still used.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Internet presence of the parish ( memento of the original dated December 30, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b Information from the parish ( memento of the original dated February 12, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Information from the parish ( Memento of the original dated February 12, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Network presence of the parish
- Scotland's Churches Trust information
- Entry on Laigh Kirk in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
Coordinates: 55 ° 36 '34.6 " N , 4 ° 29' 52" W.