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College kirk

The chapel at Maybole Collegiate Church was built in 1371 by Sir John Kennedy of Dunure, situated next to the parish kirk in Maybole.

In 1381, with the permission of the bishop of Glasgow, the church was raised to collegiate status. This involved the establishment of a college of priests – a provost, two chaplains and a clerk – to offer perpetual prayers for Sir John, his family and his ancestors.

The college continued to function for a while after the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Mass was publicly celebrated at Maybole by 200 people in Easter 1564.

The kirk remained in use as the burial place of the Kennedy earls of Cassilis and others up to the late 1600s. But it fell into ‘a most ruinous and filthy condition’ in the 1700s.

Statement of Significance

Read our Statement of Significance for Maybole Collegiate Church for facts, figures and further reading about to the castle and its history.

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Stone arched entrance way to church
Wall or ruined church with entrance way

Discover more on trove.scot

See archive photographs of Maybole Collegiate Church, plus archaeology notes and more on trove.scot. 

Maybole Collegiate Church on trove.scot
Sunshine on castle ruins, making the walls appear almost golden.

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