The name Kilgour and it’s connection to Falkland
Whilst in Falkland last summer researching the name Kilgour I went into the church a few yards up the road from the castle which is right on the main street in Falkland and found the following on a pedestal in the aisle of the church. As there was too much to write down and this was I believe, if I can remember correctly on a board. The gentleman who had told me about this article then kindly offered to have it copied for me and here it is.
I think you will find it very interesting.
"…..this old churchyard on the hill"
The origins of the church in Falkland go back to the site of Kilgour- now a farm steading about a mile West of Falkland. There are records to show that the Church there was consecrated in1243 by Bishop David de Bernham of St Andrews – an able and energetic Bishop during the reign of Alexander II. He is said to have consecrated 140 churches in 10 years in his diocese.
Kilgour Church was in existence for some 300 years before this date ,however,and indeed there has been archeological evidence to suggest a very early Christian mission in the area. Remains of circled walls of earth were found which indicate primitive Pictish dwellings. Unfortunately , there are little or no remains of the church itself , but one stone – which seems to be a keystone- was found. It has six moulded rests projecting from it and may have formed the head of a pillar surmounted by six arches, which would indicate a fairly imposing architectural structure.
There seem to have been various interpretations of the origins of the name " Kilgour".
"Kil- Our " in the Celtic means yellow church.
"Gobran or Gowran" is the name of an Irish Saint, who was a Bishop to the Britons & a contemporary of Columba ( b.521 a.d.) This interpretation would therefore correlaye with the evidence of an early Christian shrine.
"Cill" is Celtic for a hermit’s cell, which again might point to an early holy man bringing Christianity to the area.
"Kilgoueryn" (the old form) perhaps indicates a reference to the fact that the Church was by a stream ("goferen") & perhaps associated with goats ("gobhar " is Gaelic for a goat).
When the population became centred in the town around the Royal residence, the name of the Parish seems to have changed to Falkland. This was not until about 1620 however, & from the Book of the Priory of St. Andrews we know that in 1318 Duncan, the Earl of Fife gifted the church to the Priory of St. Andrews. In the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland we find reference to " Our Lady Chapel beside Falkland" and "The Chapel of the Hill beside Falkland" in 1503. In the same source, for 1506, there are other references to the Vicar of Kilgour. He drew teind silver from the King’s stags & is found procuring 32 men for the rounding up of the deer in the forest of Falklandto supply the Royal park at Stirling to provide hunting for the King when he moved there.
Although the Church fell into disrepair & the Vicar was re-housed in the Palace, The Churchyard continued to be used until the early 19th. Century.