[5] Robert Gordon's map of circa 1636-5 marks a Barnwyl Kirk[6] and Blaeu's Atlas, from Timothy Pont's survey of about 1600, as the old Castle of Barnwyiel.

Until 1707 the Minister of Stair had to preach under an oak tree on the Fulton Estate to lawfully qualify for the stipends of Barnweil].

[13] In "An 'Advertistment' about the Service Book, 1637" an Alexander Henderson, is recorded as Minister at Barnweill,[14] In 1662 Ayrshire had forty-seven parishes and during the 'Killing Times' of Charles II and James VII Barnwiell was the only one that conformed willingly to Episcopy.

The clerk John Riddell resigned in 1508 and the position passed to the laird's natural son Paul Wallace who had to carry out basic duties such as keeping the church clean and tidy, making the responses art masses, distributing holy water to parishioners homes for certain ceremonies, etc.

This single storey building had an entrance in both the north and south walls; in the east gable is a segmental arched window which may support a 15th-century.

[21] The existing building appears to be of 17th-century date,[22] however, the more substantial west gable that rises from a chamfered base-plinth with an offset at the height of the main wall-head, may also be medieval.

[21] The oldest legible tombstone, in the roughly square walled and tree encircled churchyard of about half an acre,[23] is dated 1661, although several others appear to be much older.

[21] An ancient trackway runs to the church from the nearby lane close to ditches and earthworks[24] that may have been the site of Barnweill Castle.

At least two stones carry a raised shield device for a coat of arms and one is that of a lion, the bearing of the Wallaces of Craigie Castle.

One curiosity is a memorial to Col J W Neil Smith of Barnweill and Swindridgemuir that also bears the details of his wife Evelyn Mary Mapis Duke who died on 21 June 1940.

[23] The 'Domestic Annals of Scotland' for Queen Anne (1702-1714) record that 'Some ill-disposed persons, said to be of the suppressed Parish of Barnweil, set fire to the new church of Stair in the night-time.

The gruesome expenses are recorded in the Ayr Burgh accounts as being £7 3s 8d for candles, drink, and meat as well as pitch, coals, heather, trees and other items.