East Ayrshire

East Ayrshire on Wikipedia
 

Auchinleck.

Bankglen, the site of Bank Free Church, seen by Streetview in 2009. A tin tabernacle, a photo of it can be seen here, where it's dated to 1875. NS 5998 1250. PoWiS. The same source also has a photo of its stone successor (latterly CoS), built across the road in 1899. It was still showing as active on a map of 1955, but has since been demolished - site seen by Streetview in 2024. NS 6002 1246. PoWiS dates its demolition to 1961.
Bellsbank - see Dalmellington (Lamloch and Bellsbank).
Birnieknowe, the site of the demolished St. Patrick (R.C.), as seen by the Streetview van in 2009. It stood among the trees, fairly close to the road. NS 5748 2233. Its PoWiS entry dates it to 1864-7, with closure in 1964 and demolition in 1977.

Catrine.
Connel Park, the site of the demolished New Cumnock Baptist Church. It first shows on a map of 1909, and survived at least up to 1961. PoWiS dates it to 1900, or soon after. It was succeeded by Lanehead Terrace Baptist Church in New Cumnock, for which see the New Cumnock page. NS 6053 1261.
Crosshouse, the Parish Church (CoS, opened 1882) on Kilmarnock Road. Another view. NS 3945 3840. Both © Martin Richter (2013). Link1. Link2. PoWiS. Gospel Hall on Annandale Gardens. Another view. NS 3952 3829. Both © Martin Richter (2013). Link. PoWiS.
Cumnock.

Dalmellington.
Dalrymple, the Parish Church (CoS). Three further views - 1, 2, 3. NS 3618 1461. © Howard Richter (2014). Category B listed - dates it to 1849. PoWiS discusses earlier churches. The site of Dalrymple Free Church, which is now unoccupied. The White Horse pub, a few yards away (seen at the right here) was originally the manse. The church was built in 1864, enlarged in the 1890's, and seems to have closed between 1936 (for when the National Archives of Scotland have minutes), and the later 1950's, as the O.S. map for 1957-8 doesn't show it. The 1946 edition shows it as a U.F. church, though it may have been closed by then. It had been preceded by a wooden church, known as the "Spale Kirk", built in 1846, which shows on the 1858 O.S. map on Garden Street as Free Church. It was presumably demolished at some point subsequent to the building of the Free Church of 1864. It stood at NS 3589 1459. The congregation didn't have a permanent home before the wooden church. NS 3618 1461. Both © Howard Richter (2014). PoWiS.
Darnconner, a vanished mining village, used to have a Kirk, now demolished. Map evidence shows that it was built by 1896, and it seems to have gone out of use in the late 1950's. Howard Richter has kindly drawn my attention to a photo here, which shows the church behind and to the left of the manse, in 1966. The Streetview van hasn't approached the site. NS 5763 2397. PoWiS advises that there had been a predecessor Mission Church on the same site (or nearby), a tin tabernacle, of 1874, the main church following in 1897, closed in 1939, with demolition in 1979.
Darvel, the Parish Church (CoS, 1887-8) on Hastings Square, originally known as Central Church. NS 5632 3745. © Martin Richter (2013). Link. PoWiS. Category B listed. The former Free Church, later known as Easton Memorial Church, closed in 1992 following union with the then Central Church. NS 5621 3748. © Martin Richter (2013). PoWiS. The former Evangelical Union Church on West Main Street. According to the website for the parish church, this church closed in 1965. NS 5621 3748. © Martin Richter (2013). PoWiS. The former Original Secession Church (1883) on West Donnington Street. Marked as "O.S. Church" on the 1896 map, "O.S. Ch." on the 1910, it shows as "Hall" on the 1964, 1970 and 1991 editions. PoWiS says it was also Our Lady of the Valley (R.C.), closing in 2013. NS 5634 3760. © Howard Richter (2014). The former United Presbyterian Church (1884) on Ranoldcoup Road. Old maps show what may be a church and school on the same site (though not the same building) in 1858, as it say "Free Church" and "School" on separate lines. It isn't clear whether this is a Free Church School, or a Free Church and a school. The 1896 marks the present building as "U.P. Church" in 1896, and the 1910 as "U.F.Ch.", but the maps of 1964, 1970 and 1991 mark it as "Hall". As the sign shows, it's currently being used by the local Scouts. Another view. NS 5636 3743. Both © Howard Richter (2014). PoWiS. Flame Church on Cross Street, as seen by Streetview in 2024. Link. PoWiS says the existing cottages were bought and converted in 2000.
Drongan, Schaw Kirk on Lane Crescent, as seen by the Streetview van in 2009. NS 4409 1844. Facebook. PoWiS - dates it to 1954-6. St. Clare (R.C.), on Watson Terrace, also as seen in 2009. NS 4404 1855. A 2025 news article dates it to 1958, and tells of its intended demolition. PoWiS. PoWiS also lists a former Brethren Church (2023 Streetview) on Littlemill Road - and dates it to 1958-2014. It also says that the congregation is older, but its meeting place is not known.
Dunlop, the Kirk on Main Street, as seen by Streetview in 2010. Various sources differ as to the age of the current church, and how long there has been a church on the present site - the church website, the church entry on Wikipedia, and the Clan Dunlop website. PoWiS calls it Laigh Kirk. Its category B listing dates it to 1835, with predecessors on the same site from 1766 and 1641. In the churchyard are a tomb and a schoolhouse, both listed as category A - tomb, schoolhouse. NS 4047 4941. The former Free Church on Main Street was originally U.F.C., and now serves as the Parish Church Hall. It can be seen here on a 2010 Streetview. An old photo is available here. NS 4088 4948. PoWiS. Its grade C listing dates it to "soon after .... 1843". O.S. maps, mark, to the north of the village at NS 4079 5033, St. Mary's Chapel (Site of). Its site, to the left of the road, was seen by Streetview in 2024. PoWiS.

Fenwick, the Parish Kirk. Originally dating from 1643, the church was largely destroyed in a fire in 1929, caused by the church boiler emitting sparks. Three additional views - 1, 2, 3, and an unusual feature - the sentry box, to discourage the "resurrection men"! Plaques in the churchyard explain the church's connections with the Covenanters, and weavers - 1, 2, 3. NS 4648 4348. All © Howard Richter (2014). Link1, see also the history page here. Link2. The former United Free Church (1843), now in use as the village hall. The 1896 map shows it as "Free Church", the 1910 as "U.F. Church" and the 1965 as "John Fulton Memorial Hall". Following the closure of the church (date so far not known), it re-opened as the Memorial Hall in 1920. Interior view. Two plaques provide a little history - 1, 2. For the orrery mentioned on them, see here. NS 4633 4363. All © Howard Richter (2014). The site of the United Secession Church. A plaque gives a little history, and what may be presumed to be an illustration of the church. The church was built between 1820 and 1846 (evidence from the plaque), and maps tell us that it was United Presbyterian "U. P. Church" in 1896, United Free "U.F. Church" in 1897, and that it had been demolished and replaced by a police station by 1958. Maps also show that the church was closer to the road than the present-day bungalow. NS 4631 4337. Both © Howard Richter (2014). 

Galston.

Hurlford, Church of Scotland, built as a Free Church in 1857. Another view. NS 4541 3708. Both © Martin Richter (2013). Link1. Link2. Category C listed, which says that the organ is a particularly fine instrument. See here for related listed features. The former Hurlford Kirk (1875) on Main Road. The congregation merged with that of the Free Church in 1996, whereupon this church closed. Two additional views - 1, 2. All © Martin Richter (2013).Category B listed. NS 4525 3718. St. Paul (R.C.) on Galston Road. Another view. A school in 1896 and 1910 (from old maps), this link says the building dates from the 1850's, but this one says 1883. NS 4580 3695. Both © Martin Richter (2013). The former United Presbyterian Church (1897-8) on Mauchline Road, now converted to residential use. From map evidence, it was built after 1896, and before 1910,when it shows as United Free. This source quotes Hansard (1948), from which the church "has been derelict for 16 years". It also says that it was in use as a hostel during WWII. What other use was made of it between 1932 and 2007 is at present unclear. NS 4554 3665. © Martin Richter (2013).

Kames, the site of the demolished Church of Scotland, as seen by Streetview in 2009 (later housing has since blocked this view). Its PoWiS entry dates it to 1901-4, closing in 1952, and demolished in 1957. A photo can be seen here, where it says that some of its stained glass windows were transferred to Muirkirk parish church.
Kilmarnock.
Kilmaurs, St. Maurs Glencairn Parish Church (CoS). Another view. This huge memorial is very typical of Scottish churchyards. NS 4146 4077. All © Martin Richter (2013). Link1. Link2. PoWiS dates it to 1887-9, on the site of an earlier church or churches. A brief category B listing. Maxwell and Kilmarnock United Free Church (1844 - date-stone) on Crosshouse Road. Another view. NS 4092 4108. Both © Martin Richter (2013). Link. PoWiS. There is an interesting history of the United Free Church here. The closed Glencairn United Presbyterian Church on Fenwick Road, now in use as a stained glass studio. At least the second church on this site, it was built in 1864 to replace an earlier (and smaller) church, which shows on the 1857 OS map. NS 4126 4124. © Martin Richter (2013). PoWiS. Category C listed. Google maps show a Plymouth Brethren Christian Church on Kilmarnock Road. The indicated building was seen by Streetview in 2024 - unfortunately I can't read any of the signage to confirm that this is the correct building. NS 4127 4092. PoWiS, which doesn't have an entry for the present Plymouth Brethren hall, does have an entry for what may be assumed to be a predecessor, on Fenwick Road, calling it a Brethren Church. It dates it to 1933-1968 (at least). Demolished, a house has been built on its site (2024 Streetview). NS 4116 4123. The same entry also mentions an earlier meeting, in Stewart's Hall, but I haven't been able to locate this. O.S. maps show Site of Monastic Church of St. Maur a little way S.W. of the parish church, off Kirkton Road at NS 4142 4071. Its site is somewhere beyond the fence line, as seen in a Streetview from 2009. PoWiS.
Knockentiber, the site of the demolished Mission Hall on South Hook Road, as seen by Streetview in 2015. Its frontage was roughly in line with the fence. Map evidence shows it was built before 1896, and it seems to have gone out of use in the 1960's. NS 3967 3914. PoWiS calls it the Brethren Plann Hall. A little way to the south, O.S. maps mark Supposed Site of Chapel, at NS 3968 3903, quite close to the site of Busbie Castle. If the maps are accurate, it would have stood behind the house seen in a Streetview from 2024. PoWiS.

Lethanhill was a now-vanished mining village. Aerial views show that almost the entirety of the village has gone, and a forest planted on its site. It had a Mission Hall. Old maps imply it was built between 1897 and 1909, and it was demolished by 1961. A war memorial has been left in situ. Although not seen by Streetview, its Canmore entry includes photos here. NS 4349 1037.
Lugar, the former Parish Church, now converted to residential use. This source says it was originally an industrial building of 1845, converted into a church in 1867. Another view, and the handsome war memorial. NS 5909 2134. All © Howard Richter (2014).
Lugton, the site of a demolished Mission Hall (where the house now stands), as seen by Streetview in 2009. It pre-dates a map of 1896-7, and later maps label it as Lugton Hall, suggesting it went out of use by 1967. NS 4134 5286. PoWiS says that the church was originally at a slightly different location (NS 4130 5280) and moved prior to 1895.

Mauchline, the Parish Church (CoS). Opened in 1829, it replaced an older church demolished in 1827. NS 4980 2722. © James Murray (2009). PoWiS. Category B listed. The former Mission Hall. The church board is beside the downspout at the left of the building - "Mission Hall" can still just be made out. Two further views - 1, 2. NS 4998 2726. All © Howard Richter (2014). PoWiS says it belonged to the Ayrshire Christian Union to about 1955 from when it was shared with a Christian Brethren congregation, but it was closed soon after. A United Presbyterian Church stood on The Knowe, at NS 4972 2736. The site is now occupied by a bungalow (the building on the left of the photo). O.S. maps show it as U.P. Church in 1896, Mauchline North Church in 1959 and 1972. Another view. In the old photo of the church, linked to at the end of this entry, the house immediately to the right of the church is still standing, see here. PoWiS dates it to 1884, on the site of a predecessor. All © Howard Richter (2014). A photo of the church is available here. A Free Church once stood behind some shops on Loudoun Street, at NS 4979 2714. Access to it was through the alley seen by Streetview in 2009. PoWiS calls it Abbey United Free Church, dating it to 1884-5, on the site of a predecessor of 1844. Another source dates its demolition to 1969, and includes exterior and interior photos. PoWiS also has an entry for a Christian Brethren congregation meeting in the Lesser Temperance Hall on Kilmarnock Road. An old photo of it can be seen here (number 8) - behind the man driving the cattle. The hall has gone - the site was seen by Streetview in 2024. NS 4985 2732.
Muirkirk, the parish church on Kirk Green. NS 7004 2775. © Martin Briscoe. Link. Category B listed. PoWiS dates it to 1812-14, possibly on the same site as its predecessor of 1633. Unknown Church on Wellwood Street, now identified as St. Thomas (R.C.) by Janet Smith, to whom many thanks. NS 6995 2778. © Martin Briscoe. Link dates it to 1906. PoWiS. The former St. Thomas (R.C.) on Kirk Green at NS 7004 2769 now serves as the church hall. © Howard Richter (2014). PoWiS. The former Free Church on Glasgow Road. NS 6961 2745. © Howard Richter (2014). A Streetview shows that it had been demolished by March 2021. PoWiS. Evangelical Union Church. NS 6963 2751. © Howard Richter (2014). A U.P. Church once stood on Main Street at NS 6960 2723. The site, now a car park, was seen by Streetview in 2010. PoWiS - dates it originally to 1823, as a United Secession Church, and demolished in 1972. Coflein also has an entry for a Salvation Army Church, meeting in the Temperance Hall on Main Street. Demolished, its site was seen by Streetview in 2024. NS 6985 2751. A former Plymouth Brethren Hall is also mentioned by PoWiS, on Glasgow Road at NS 6963 2735. Dated to no later than 1895, closing in 1978, and subsequently converted to residential use. 2024 Streetview.

New Cumnock.

Newmilns, Loudoun Church (CoS). An 1844 church on an older site. Another view. Commemorative tablet to Murdoch Nisbet, of whom more on Wikipedia here. NS 5376 3733. All © Martin Richter (2013). Link. News item. Grade B listed. Townheads Church (1994) on Main Street. NS 5391 3740. © Howard Richter (2014). The site of the demolished East Church, replaced by housing and now called East Church Court. The church was built before 1858, and is marked on the 1858 and 1896 maps as "Free Church", in 1910 as "U.F. Church", and in 1964 as "Loudoun East Church". It was demolished in 1980, subsequent to the joining of the congregations of Loudoun Church and East Church. NS 539 375. © Howard Richter (2014). A demolished United Presbyterian Church off High Street (then Doitburn Street) pre-dates a map of 1858, and was demolished in the years preceding the compilation of a map of 1964. The site can be seen on a Streetview of 2011. NS 5359 3742.

Ochiltree, Parish Church, on Main Street. 1798, re-built in 1897-8. Another view. NS 5055 2110. Grade B listed. Based on map evidence, a Free Church stood at NS 5065 2105 before 1858, and was still extant in 1959 (although probably out of use by then). The site is now a small park. Two further views - 1, 2. All © Howard Richter (2014).

Pathhead, the former Gospel Hall. NS 6194 1437. © Howard Richter (2014).
Patna, the parish Church (1837) on Main Street. Two further views - 1, 2. The adjacent church hall dates from 1898. NS 4122 1064. Link. The former Free Church, on Main Street. Map evidence suggests it was built after 1896, and before 1909, when it shows as U.F. Church. It continued showing on O.S. maps at least up to the 1985 edition (United Free Church). Evidently now closed, this photo on an external website, is from 2006, and the church appears to be being looked after, so was possibly still active at that date. Another view. NS 4150 1055. It had been preceded by an earlier church at circa NS 4143 1056, which shows on the 1857 map, and it continued in use as the church hall, at least until 1962, when it is shown as such on the O.S. map of that year. The former Ebenezer Gospel Hall on Main Street, which was for sale in 2014. Another view. NS 4129 1068. All © Howard Richter (2014).

Rankinston has had three churches at one time or another. The village has recently been visited by the Streetview van, so all of the Streetviews which follow date from 2023. The former Shaw Kirk (CoS) on Littlemill Place at NS 4508 1453. Another view. The demolished Rankinston Mission Hall used to stand across the road from Shaw Kirk - its site now marked by the patch of grass. NS 4511 1453. Both of the preceding churches appear on a map of 1961, revised in 1959. The site of the demolished Baptist Mission Hall on Kerse Terrace at NS 4513 1375. It pre-dates a map of 1911.

Schaw Bridge, the derelict former Free Church (1843-4), as seen by the Streetview van in 2009. It has a Buildings At Risk entry, which advises that it had been offered for sale since at least 2014. Its Canmore entry includes an old photo. NS 4466 2051. Video tour. Grade C(S) listed.
Sorn, the parish church. © Martin Briscoe.
Stair, the Parish Church of 1864 can be seen on the church website. Its History page dates the church to 1864, on the site of an earlier church of 1706. NS 4395 2360. Grade C listed.
Stewarton, St. Columba (CoS) on Lainshaw Street. Built in 1696 (date-stone), probably on the site of an earlier church, it was originally known as Laigh Kirk. It had a change of name when the church joined with the congregation of the Cairns United Free Church in 1962. Three additional views - 1, 2, 3. NS 419 457. Link. Some history (pdf) here. Grade B listed. The site (the smaller house in the terrace, towards the right of the photo) of the demolished United Presbyterian Church on Main Street. Maps reveal the following history - 1857 and 1896 "U.P. Church", 1910 "U.F. Ch.", and 1964, "U.F. Church". Howard considers that this is likely to be the Cairns United Free Church, in which case it was founded in 1776, with a new church replacing it in 1854 (source). The location of the earlier church is so far unknown, but it will be the latter church whose site is on the photo. By 1991 it had been demolished, and re-developed for the housing now on the site. NS 4216 4604. Roman Catholic Church, north of Lainshaw Street at NS 419 457. One on-line resource says it was built in 1974, which contradicts the O.S. map of 1964, which shows "Our Lady and St. John RC Church" on the same site - although possibly the 1974 date refers to a re-build. U.R.C. (formerly Congregational). NS 4189 4607. John Knox Parish Church (1841, CoS) on Main Street. Like so many Scottish churches, it has a history of denominational changes. Built in 1841-2 as Church of Scotland, it separated as part of the schism of 1843 and became a Free Church. In 1900 it became known as John Knox Free Church, before re-joining the Church of Scotland in 1929 (a good history here). Grade B listed. All © Howard Richter (2014).

Waterside, the former Parish Church (CoS) now converted to residential use. NS 4362 0881. St. Francis Xavier (R.C.). Two additional views - 1, 2. A convent (demolished) stood on what is now the car park. NS 4452 0807. All © Howard Richter (2014).