Kennedy Aisle
The Kennedy Aisle or Bargany Aisle at (NX 08379 82444) Ballantrae, South Ayrshire is a vaulted burial chamber and crypt containing a large mural memorial, the Kennedy Monument, an ornately carved stone monument dated to between 1602 and 1605 that commemorates Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany and Ardstinchar, his wife, Janet or Jean Stewart, who died in 1605 and three of their children. The mural monument architecturally has much in common with the 1600 Glencairn Monument commissioned by James, Seventh Earl of Glencairn for himself, his Countess, Margaret and their eight children. A burial crypt was present in front of the monument. The old parish kirk The aisle was erected as a mausoleum containing a memorial to Gilbert Kennedy, Baron of Bargany and Ardstinchar, circa 1604. It became a part of the new kirk that became the parish kirk in 1617, replacing St Cuthbert's Kirk on the lands of Kirkholm at Kirkcubright-Innertig. A new manse was built at the same time and a glebe provided. It was described as ".. the new Kirk of Ballantry; quhilk the lady had caussitt build for hir husband, quhair scho had gartt sett wp ane glorieous towme". As stated, in 1617 the move of the Parish kirk to Ballantrae was confirmed by Parliament ".. that off lait Laird off Barganie, vpoun ane verre religious and gryit zeale and affectioun, vpoun his lairge ans sumpteous chairgie and expense has caused builde and edefie ane kirk within the toun of Ballantrae, now erected in ane burgh of baronie, ...". In 1650 Ballantrae Kirk was disjoined from Colmonell Parish and it became part of the Presbytery of Ayr in 1699. A new manse was built in 1736 that required repair work in 1777. The old kirk was abandoned and probably robbed to provide building stone for the new parish church built nearby in 1819. In 1827 it was decided that the site of the old kirk should be cleared for use as a burial ground. Of the original parish kirk only one wall may survive with a trace of an infilled pointed arch window. In 1855 a roofed building stood attached to the east gable end of the David Ferguson Kennedy of Finarts Aisle, unroofed by 1894, the ruins of which survive. The patronage of the kirk had been held by Crossraguel Abbey, passed to the Kennedys of Bargany and then to Sir John Hamilton of Lesterrick when the Bargany estates were sold. Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany and Ardstinchar Gilbert, 16th Laird or Baron of Bargany and Ardstinchar, was killed in 1601 aged 25 at the so-called 'Battle of Brockloch' or the 'Maybole Snowballing'. He was ambushed at Pennyglen, Lady Corse, near Maybole with only thirty or so attendants in a snowstorm by around 200 men led by John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassilis. He was struck in the back by a thrown lance and died soon after at Ayr. The details of the incident differ between sources. In revenge for his brother's death, Thomas Kennedy of Drummurchie