Old Aberfoyle Kirk and the Rev. Robert Kirk's 'Secret Commonwealth'

The old kirk at Aberfoyle was abandoned in 1870 and unroofed as a new parish church had been built with the new village school next to it. A pair of coffin-shaped mortsafes are displayed outside the west door. The grave of Rev Robert Kirk, restored and re-cut circa 1792, is located to the south of the 1839 Kirk Session House. Kirk was a 7th son and a native of Aberfoyle. He was a scholar and had a major role in translating the Bible and Psalms into Scots Gaelic.
For an associate's wife he wrote 'The Secret Commonwealth' which records the folklore about the fairies, Elves, etc. Kirk regularly walked to the Doon Fairy Hill and was found there, apparently dead, but it was said that the Fairies had taken him into the Fairy Hill in revenge for him revealing their secrets. He is said to have appeared as a wraith and given instructions for a knife to be thrown above his head when he appeared at the baptism of his son, however this was not done and he was condemned to remain with the Fairies for all time.
Coins are traditionally left on his grave, either to encourage the fairies to release the minister or to enable his escape to Heaven.