The main portion of this church, although its walls may in part be old,
is not of much architectural merit, but the chancel (Fig. 1578) is not
without interest as a specimen of late Gothic work. It is now used as a
burial vault, and is completely ivy clad. It measures about 18 or 20
feet square, and is of modest height, being some 10 or 12 feet to the
eaves.
The chief feature is the east window, with its rude tracery. The latter,
which is of a different stone from the jambs and sills, is probably a
restoration of late in the sixteenth century, while the chancel itself
may be a little earlier. The building is vaulted with a barrel vault,
and is covered on the exterior with overlapping stone slabs. It is
impossible to say whether it contains any features of pre-Reformation
times. The door seen on the south side of the choir is dated 1701.
Of the panels half concealed in the ivy, the one on the right contains
the arms of Thomas Hepburn, incumbent of Oldhamstocks, and of his wife,
Margaret Sinclair, who died in 1581. This Thomas Hepburn was admitted
Master of Requests to Queen Mary two days after her marriage with
Bothwell, and he was tried and convicted for aiding the Queen in her
escape from Lochleven.[247]
[Illustration: FIG. 1578.--Oldhamstocks Church.]
This church is of an old foundation. In 1127 Aldulph, the presbyter of
Aldehamstoc, witnessed a charter of Robert, the Bishop of St. Andrews,
and the church is rated in the ancient _Taxatio_ and in _Bagimond’s
Roll_. It is also recorded as an existing rectory in the Archbishop’s
Roll of 1547.
There is a peculiar sundial on the south-west corner of the church,
which is illustrated.[248] It may be mentioned that in the centre of the
west end of the church there is a tower which is finished at the top
with a modern belfry. This tower or turret is probably of
pre-Reformation date.