<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Kirkmichael" class="extiw" title="w:en:Kirkmichael">Kirkmichael</a> is a village in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:South_Ayrshire" class="extiw" title="w:en:South Ayrshire">South Ayrshire</a> that lies three miles east of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Maybole" class="extiw" title="w:en:Maybole">Maybole</a> and started life as the focus of a well populated rural parish served by its church. Its origins date back to the 13th century when John de Gemmelstoun founded a church beside the Dyrock Burn here, which he dedicated to St. Michael. For much of its early life the village was called Kirkmichael of Gemilston, after its founder, but the name was eventually simplified.  The village church (on Patna Road) dates back to 1787 and is a typical ‘T-plan’ design intended to provide a large number of seats within a small space, all exposed to the full force of the preacher's oratory. The surrounding churchyard cemetery reflects its much greater age, though the attractive lich gate (intended to accommodate mourners at funerals) leading to it only dates back to 1702, according to the inscription on its bell. <br><span style="color:blue;"><i>The <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Scotch_Mist/People" title="User:Scotch Mist/People">Scotch Mist Gallery</a> contains photographs of historic buildings, monuments, memorials and people.</i></span>
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Scotch_Mist" title="User:Scotch Mist">Scotch Mist</a>
CC BY-SA 4.0
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>