St Mary's Kirkyard

About St Mary's Kirkyard

The kirk itself has vanished entirely - some of its stones no doubt built into the wall that marks the kirkyard. Some claim that this is the Kirk in the Forest where William Wallace was proclaimed Guardian of Scotland. Records show that there was a place of worship here as early as 1275. Family names include Scott, Kerr, Bryden, Linton, Pringle and others. To commemorate the determination of the persecuted Covenanters of the 17th century to maintain their beliefs, an annual ‘blanket preaching’ still takes place at the end of July within the kirkyard. This recalls the days when the outlawed Covenanters were forced to hold their acts of worship out of doors in secluded places.

“O WELL is me, my gay gos-hawk,”
—That you can speak and flee;
For you can carry a love-letter
—To my true love frae me.”

“O how can I carry a letter to her,
—Or how should I her know?
I bear a tongue ne'er wi' her spak',
—And eyes that ne'er her saw.”

“The white o' my love's skin is white
—As down o' dove or maw;
The red o' my love's cheek is red
—As blood that's spilt on snaw.