Alloway Kirk takes centre stage in Burns' famous poem Tam O'Shanter published in 1791 as the meeting place of the devil "Auld Nick" and various ghosts -
Warlocks and witches in a dance;
Nae cotillion brent-new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and mettle in their heels.
A winnock-bunker in the east,
There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast;
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To gie them music was his charge:
He scre'd the pipes and gart them skirl,
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl.--
Coffins stood round, like open presses,
That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses;
The church dates back to the sixteenth century with some parts from even earlier. The building fell into disuse when the congregation moved to a new church.
There are some very decorative grave stones in the kirkyard.
It was a very interesting place to visit. Joining with InSPIREd Sunday - come along and see some more interesting churches.
Love, Liz