A ruin, situated about three to four miles west from Dalbeattie. The
original name was Kil-Ennan, that of Buittle being comparatively modern.
A notice of the church occurs as early as 1275, when it was granted by
Devorgilla to the monks of Sweetheart; and on the 16th July 1381, Pope
Benedict XIII. confirms a charter by Thomas, Bishop of Galloway,
granting the Church of St. Colmanel of Butyll to the Abbey of
Sweetheart. We are informed that a new church was erected before the
Reformation. This was, doubtless, part of the present ivy-clad ruin. The
church and lands were annexed to the Crown in 1587.[117]
[Illustration: FIG. 727.--Buittle Church. Plan.]
The building is peculiar in form (Fig. 727), the choir being wider than
the nave--the former measuring 26 feet 6 inches, and the latter 22 feet
in width over the walls. The choir is about 30 feet and the nave 44 feet
in length internally. The walls and gables are well preserved (Fig.
728), but the whole building is so completely covered with ivy that any
architectural features which may exist are concealed. There is a pointed
chancel arch between the nave and choir, and the latter part of the
church is lighted with three lancet windows in the east gable.
To judge from the appearance of the building the nave and its belfry
were, doubtless, the parts erected shortly before the Reformation, and
the choir is the more ancient portion. It is probably of first pointed
date.
[Illustration: FIG. 728.--Buittle Church. View from South-East.]
The straight lintelled doorway in the east end, under the three pointed
windows, is part of the work done in Presbyterian times.