transept, where shown on the Plan, there is a wooden screen (Fig. 1171)
of late erection, but not without some character, near its centre, and
beneath the south arch of the tower there stands up, a few inches from
the pavement, a broken worn stone about 12 inches square, the purpose of
which is not obvious.
The church throughout is vaulted with a pointed barrel vault, but no
provision has been made for the vaulting of the nave. Crichton Church
was converted, in 1449, by Sir William Crichton, well known as
Chancellor Crichton, into a collegiate establishment for a provost, nine
prebendaries, and two singing boys, and was suitably endowed. The
existing structure was probably erected at that time. Sir William also
built an extensive addition to the Castle of Crichton, and doubtless the
same builders were employed on church and castle, as many of the details
closely resemble each other. From Mr. Gourlay’s letter, already referred
to, it appears that there was a provost’s house about a mile distant. He
mentions that it was then used as a farmhouse and called Rosehall, and
that there was a place of worship beside it and a churchyard, but with
the exception of the latter nothing now remains.
The tower is supported by pointed arches springing from responds in the
four sides. The responds are of simple section, and the caps contain
some good late foliaged carving (see Fig. 1171).