Two medieval tombs preserve rare sculptural evidence from Renfrew’s earlier parish church inside its nineteenth-century successor.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
- Architect / designer
- Medieval sculptors unknown
- Type
- Two medieval stone tomb monuments
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB40417)
- OS grid reference
- NS 50799 67547
Architecture and continuing use
One monument sets recumbent figures of a knight and spouse in an arched recess above a carved base. The second is a plainer altar tomb; together they contrast commemorative display across successive medieval generations.
Its story
The monuments are associated with John Ross and John Motherwell and probably date from the later Middle Ages. They were retained through replacement of the earlier church and remain within the 1860s building.
Why it is included
Category A listing recognises scarce medieval funerary sculpture that carries Renfrew’s parish history across the loss and rebuilding of successive churches.
What to notice
- The paired recumbent figures in the arched recess.
- Carved detail along the Ross monument base.
- The deliberately restrained form of the Motherwell tomb.
Reading the surroundings
Do not assume the closed church is open. Seek explicit permission from the owner or responsible body before any interior visit, and never handle, lean on or photograph the monuments against stated conditions.
Timeline
- Fourteenth century The Ross monument was probably carved for a knight and his wife.
- Fifteenth century The plainer Motherwell altar tomb was probably made.
- 1861–62 The monuments were retained within the replacement parish church.
- 1971 Their exceptional interest received separate Category A listing.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The early dates and personal identifications are traditional or attributed rather than supported by a modern inscriptional study in the designation.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Medieval Monuments in Renfrew Old Parish Church, LB40417 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB40417 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- National Records of Scotland: Renfrew Old Parish Church records — Parish chronology and archival continuity to 2012.
Location
OS grid reference NS 50799 67547 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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