Inside the church, near the front entrance, there rest life-size effigies in stone of Sir John Houstoun and his wife, Annes Campbell. These reclining statues are what remain of a more elaborate monument. The historian Crawfurd writes that Sir John Houstoun died in 1456 and was buried "in the parish church of Houstoun, under a canopy of freestone, with effigies of himself and his lady, as big as life; around the verge of the tomb I find the inscription in Saxon capitals, ‘Here lies John of Houstoun, lord of that Ilk, and Annes Campbell, his spouse, who died anno 1456’." 1

According to J. C. Campbell, the canopy of freestone resembled an alcove bed. "The statue representing Sir John was dressed in a coat of mail, the head, which rested on a pillow, being covered with one of those hood-like helmets worn by the barons of the 15th century. His feet rested against a lion with gaping jaws, holding a lamb in its paw under it. The image of the dame was dressed in the rich robes of a lady of rank both figures were laid with their faces toward heaven, while their hands were raised in an attitude of prayer." 2

While some remodeling was being done on the church many years ago, the monument was dismantled and lay neglected and exposed to the elements, in various locations, for long periods of time. Eventually the statues only were restored to the church, where they have since remained.

Heroic Sir Peter Houstoun, son and heir of Sir John, guided the destiny of the barony for 57 years and died in defense of the king, as will be related in the next chapter.








1 George Ciawfurd, The History of the Shire of Renfrew (continued by William Sernple, Paisley, Scotland, printed and sold by Alex Weir, Book.seller near the Cross, and by the author, 1710, Revised 1782, Paisley), p. 104. 2 J. C. Campbell, Houstoniana (Houston, Scotland, printed at the Herald Office, Paisley, Scotland, 1864), p. 40. 23