There has been a Christian presence on this site of the Auchincruive Church in St Quivox since the 1200s. Its earliest mention was from 1208. From 1238, it was owned by Paisley Abbey, until the Reformation when it fell into disrepair.
The medieval building was restored in 1595 on its original 13th century foundations by Alan, Fourth Lord Cathcart, who owned the Sundrum and Auchincruive estates and was Patron of St Quivox Church.
At that time it was built as a simple long hall running along the current pulpit wall, served by the Auchincruive aisle. The pulpit and chancel were thought to be on the east wall, and the covered-in door on that wall probably served as an entrance for the priest.
The first Restoration moved the pulpit to its present position and added a T-shaped 'body o' the kirk' opposite the pulpit.
This restoration was marked by a stone panel on the outside south wall of the church. Made of sandstone, it has worn badly over the last 4 centuries, but bears the date 1595, the Cathcart coat-of-arms, and motto 'I Hope to Speed."
St Quivox Parish Church: Ayr (Church of Scotland) (known as Ayr:St Quivox Parish Church) is a Scottish Charity, SC004906, regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)