Tragedy at the Laigh Kirk

Hello everyone!  I thought that since this is my first post on the very lovely new URsTV website (if I don’t say so myself ;oD) I would start up a wee series of short posts entitled ‘Did You Know? ‘. Being a Glaswegian (Weegie) myself, and having  lived in gorgeous Killie for about 5 years now, I have grown to love the historical beauty and rural surroundings and it is my own interest in history that has encouraged me to find out more about my new home.

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The Laigh Kirk

Tragedy at the Laigh Kirk – On Sunday 18th October 1801, 29 people were killed in a panicked stampede when a piece of plaster falling from the church ceiling caused the congregation to believe that the building was collapsing and in the ensuing panic to get out, some were crushed due to the narrow stairways of the upper level and because there was only one exit.  The church itself had been too small for the ever increasing congregation.

In 1802 the builders of the new, replacement church made sure this type of tragedy would not happen again and added no less than 13 exits.  This replacement Kirk is the one which still (safely) stands today, less than a stone throw from Killie Cross.

Kilmarnock Cross looking toward the Laigh Kirk

The Laigh Kirk as it looks today

Footnote

Images sourced from:-
Top left: The Ayrshire Page Website
Bottom left: East Ayrshire Council Website
Right: Geography High