Built as a place for private contemplation and prayer, it also contains a large memorial monument, as well as the burial crypt of the Cunningham Earls of Glencairn and their family members.

[2] It houses an exceptional ornately carved stone mural monument dated 1600 that commemorates James Cunningham, the 7th Earl of Glencairn, his countess, Margaret Campbell and eight of their children.

[8] In the aisle there is the aforementioned early 17th century mural monument (1600) commissioned by James, Seventh Earl of Glencairn for himself, his countess, Margaret, his children and close relatives.

The college rules were stipulated in a founding charter for the conduct of the services with the style of the masses tailor made to meet the spiritual needs of the founder and their descendants.

[18] Hugh Cunningham, third son of William, 4th Earl, obtained the lands of Carlung near West Kilbride that had been held by Kilmaurs Collegiate Church.

In 1888 the section of wall at the back of the pulpit was taken down and rebuilt a few feet further out, thus forming an arched alcove where the Glencairn Aisle originally opened onto the church.

To accommodate the bellows the church was extended to incorporate the aisle with a new wooden door and entryway added, making the internal yett or gate redundant.

Cavettos bearing the plain 'Y' 'Over Fork Over' heraldic symbol of the Cunninghams are located at both ends of the crow stepped south facing gable.

[2] The church once housed the parish school and the aisle and its monument suffered from the actions of the pupils, whilst in addition the local shoemakers removed good quality stone for use as whetstones.

[33] The last burial here, circa 1788, as reported by Johnnie Black, the parish sexton,[31] was of a Mr. Hamilton of Bardowie who had lived at Kilmaurs Place and claimed to be a relation of the Cunninghams of Glencairn.

When in 1870 the parish schoolmaster, Duncan McNaught, and his assistants excavated the crypt, as many as three cartloads of soil and rubbish were removed and the skulls of fifteen people were found.

A decorative white carved stone plaque on the west facing wall commemorates Captain Alfred Keith Smith Cuninghame of Caprington who was killed in 1917.

He married a second time after Margaret's death in 1610 to Agnes, a sister of James Hay of Fingask, and the widow of George Preston of that Ilk and Craigmillar (died 1609),[38] but had no issue.

The pair of coneys (rabbits) are the supporters and either side are carvings of a bird which may represent peregrine falcons, possibly as a reference to a popular sport of the aristocracy, falconry.

Their heads are curved back to bite their tails, forming an ouroboros which symbolises rebirth and renewal as derived from the act of a snake sloughing its skin.

In keeping with Presbyterian beliefs and practices the monument does not bear any crucifixes, references by name or in carved imagery to the Virgin Mary and the Latin language, associated with Catholicism, is hardly used.

Dexter (right) – Quarterly 1st & 4th gyronny (divided into gyrons by straight lines all crossing at the fess point) of eight Or (gold) and Sable (black),[46] 2nd Or (gold) a fess (broad horizontal stripe across the middle) checky (equilateral rectangles of alternate tinctures) Azure (blue) and Argent (silver), 3rd Argent a lymphad or ancient galley sails furled flags and pennants flying Gules (red) and oars in action,[47] Sable (black) a bordure (broad border) Ermine.

Above the shield is placed a helmet with vizor closed facing sinister, mantling of three pairs of Acanthus leaves (device of the painter to give prominence to the coat of arms)[48] Argent (silver) in relief, and surmounting the achievement are placed is a central crest, (figure attached to the helmet for identification in battle) viz: – an Earl’s coronet surmounted by a unicorn; on a compartment below the shield, which is a double escroll (scroll), whereupon is inscribed the words ‘Fork Ovir’ (Fork Over), are placed two supporters (figures on each side supporting the shield), sinister a coney (rabbit) at liberty (not restrained), argent (silver), dexter a stag at liberty, maned and hoofed, Or (gold): attired with six tynes (branches on antlers) Gules (red).

Unusually and incorrectly the Letters ‘D M C’ for Dame Margaret Campbell and ‘E I C’ for Earl James Cunningham appear on the shield, apparently as an interpretive addition.

At the aisle the carved inscription is not sophisticated and monuments made after 1600, that are signed, indicate a higher level of skill and education along with elegant cursive script.

[37] Sir Colin Campbell, known as Grey Colin, Margaret's father, is on record as a Protestant, but the church records for Kilmacolm suggest that Margaret was a practising Roman Catholic as she consistently failed to attend services at the Kilmacolm Presbyterian Church of Scotland and was even declared 'contumax' by the presbytery,[37] meaning a person who is accused of a crime who refuses to appear and answer to the charge.

Instead of attending the Presbyterian services she seemingly took a private mass at her home, Finlaystone Castle,[37] with priests Patrick Walkinshaw and Luke Stirling officiating.

[30] Some minor alterations were carried out a few years later, such as the erection of a gate to restrict access, following the visit of Lady Don of Newton, sister of John, the last Earl of Glencairn.

The crypt beneath the aisle was first excavated with several cartloads of soil and rubbish removed and portions of the monument were recovered, reassembled and used as models for the restoration.

The founders of the Kilmaurs Collegiate Church in the 15th century, Sir William and Lady Margaret Cunningham, would have had ornate high status grave covers such as these.

McNaught records that "At the restoration of 1888, what appeared to be side posts (jambs) and lintel of a door were uncovered in the north wall of the east aisle, and, in close proximity, a stone basin was also laid bare.

The stones are elaborately ornamented with chiselled work, and when found, they had their carved faces turned inwards,.." He states that they could still be seen although the basin was built into the wall.

[62] 1753 – William Coats, the minister, added a sundial that now sits above the cavetto on the west facing crow steps of the south gable end.

1800 – Lady Henrieta Don of Newton, sister of the 14th and 15th Earls, and her daughter visited and some minor alterations were carried out shortly after, such as the erection of a lockable gate or door.

1870 – Dr Duncan McNaught, the local schoolmaster, was approached to assist with the restoration of the monument as a memorial to Sir Thomas Montgomery Cuninghame of Corsehill.