847
Roman Catholic, one Evangelical Union, two Congregational, two Methodist,
one Baptist, and one Reformed Presbyterian churches.]
12. The parish of LOCHWTNNOCH derives its name from the fine lake which
is called Lochwinnoch, and which is more than two and a half miles long.
On the north-western side of this lake there was founded in early times a
chapel which was dedicated to St. Winnoc (h). From the tutelar saint the
adjacent lake was called Loch-winnoch, and the church, the village, and the
parish obtained from the lake the name of Lochwinnoch (i). The chapel
of Lochwinnoch, with all its pertinents, was granted to the monastery of
Paisley by Walter the son of Alan in 1164 (k). It was confirmed to the
monks by Florence the bishop of Glasgow, and by a bull of Pope
Honorius (l). In 1246 Alexander the Stewart of Scotland granted in
free alms to the monastery of Paisley six acres of land adjacent to the
chapel of Lochwinnoch (m). The district which was served by the chapel
of Lochwinnoch was afterwards established a parish, and the chapel became
a parish church (n). This church continued to belong to the monastery of
Paisley till the Reformation. The monks drew the tithes and revenues,
and the cure was served by a vicar pensioner, to whom a certain allowance
was made. The rental of the monastery of Paisley, which was given up at
the Reformation, stated that the rectorial revenues of the three churches of
Lochwinnoch, Largs, and Inverkip, were let together for £460 yearly; and
that the vicarage revenues of the churches of Lochwinnoch and Paisley
were let together for £100 yearly (0). After the Reformation the patron-
age and tithes of the church of Lochwinnoch belonged to the comnien-
dators of Paisley till 1587, when they were vested heritably in Lord Claud
Hamilton, the last commendator, and they were inherited by his grandson,
James Earl of Abercorn. Colonel William Macdowal, who purchased the
meal; and by the act of parliament in 1801, authorising feu grants of the glebe for building, at an
average rent of £100 per acre, the value of the glebe has been raised to £600 a year, and the whole
revenue of the minister is now £711 with 32 bolls of meal.
(h) There appear to have been three different saints named Winnoc, one, if not two of 'whom, was
a native of Britain, and another was an Irish saint, and a coadjutor of St. Patrick. Britannia Sancta,
Part ii. 252.
(i) On a small island in the middle of the lake, opposite to the village, there was an ancient
fortress called the Peel. In modern times the lake has been frequently called Castle Sem.ple
Loch, from the castle of the Semple family, which stood at the northern end of it, and was demolished
in 1735, when a modern mansion was built in its place. The river Calder and several other streams
fall into the lake, and the river Black Cart issues from it. Before the end of the 12th century Alan
the son of Walter granted to the monks of Paisley the half of the fishing at the issue of Lochwinnoch,
and the liberty of fishing in the lake as often as he or his heirs might fish in it. Chart. Paisley,
No. 40.               (k) Ib., Nos. 7-11.               (/) IK, 97, 149.               (m) Ib., 144.
(n) Ib., 53.                                                (o) MS. Rental Book, fo. 28.