Fig. 1285.—Castle Semple Collegiate Church. View from South-East.
Fig. 1286.—Castle Semple Collegiate Church. View from North-West.
by John, first Lord Sempill, near his own residence of Castle Semple. The establishment consisted of a provost, six chaplains, two boys, and a sacristan. The church (Fig. [1284]) measures within the walls 66 feet in length by 19 feet in width. The building is a simple oblong, terminating toward the east in a three-sided apse, and having a square tower projecting from the centre of the west wall.
Fig. 1287.—Castle Semple Collegiate Church. Monument to John, Lord Sempill.
The style of the east end (Fig. [1285]) is very remarkable. The forms of the double windows indicate plainly that they are very late survivals of spurious Gothic work, and a close examination of the building tends to confirm this view. The other windows in the side walls have been greatly altered, but they do not present any features at all like those of the apse. Over the door to the chancel are two coats of arms with the letters R. L. S. and A. M. S., the dexter shield bearing the Sempill arms and the sinister the Montgomerie. The square tower at the west end (Fig. [1286]) is extremely simple, and has no analogy with the work at the east end.