Lochwinnoch, St Winnock's Church

Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, cross fragment and base

Measurements: H 1.30m, W 0.53m, D 0.17m

Stone type: sandstone

Place of discovery: ploughed up in the early nineteenth century on a farm near Lochwinnoch, and taken to the churchyard to stand on the Ewing family burial lair.

Present location: in St Winnock’s churchyard, Lochwinnoch.

Evidence for discovery: ploughed up in the early nineteenth century on a farm near Lochwinnoch, and taken to the churchyard to stand on the Ewing family burial lair.

Present condition: badly weathered and lacking its arms.

Description

MacQuarrie suggests that the top of the cross was deliberately re-shaped, perhaps for re-use as a gravestone. The surviving fragment, still in its base, represents the shaft and part of the centre of the cross-head. Face A bears part of a crucifixion with the lower part of a robed torso, and face C part of a spine and boss cross above a horse and rider facing left. MacQuarrie’s reconstruction indicates a serpent’s head as the terminal of the lower arm or spine of the cross.

Date: tenth to eleventh century.

References: MacQuarrie 2006, 17-18, fig 19.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017

NS35NE 3 35595 59122.

(NS 3559 5912) Church (NR) (remains of)

OS 25" map (1966)

This was originally published as "St Winnoe's Church", following the dedication given in Origines parochiales Scotiae (OPS 1851). Several local informants considered that there was a St Winnoc, and Crawford states that the church was dedicated to St Mary. However, though St Winnoc is not mentioned by Watson, Attwater states that Winnoc (d.715 ?) appears in many Medieval English calendars. (Listed by SDD as St Winnock's Church). About 1207, Lochwinnoch was a chaplaincy under Paisley Abbey, till the Reformation, when it became the parish church. According to Dr A Crawford's MSS; it was like a barn, it was repaired in 1729, when aisles were added, making it cruciform. It was knocked down in 1806, and all that now remains is one crow-stepped gable, bell-turret and inserted clock. The Third Statistical Account (TSA 1962) states that it has recently been repaired and is in the care of the District Council.

Name Book 1856; W J Watson 1926; D Attwater 1965; J C Hill 1953

At the point indicated is an unusual building, probably erected to preserve the W gable of the former church. A lintel is dated 1729. Two small rooms are used as a tool store and mortuary house. The remaining area is now a burial ground.

Visited by OS (WW) 28 July 1955