The Church & Village
The village of Kippen (pop. approx. 1,500), is set in a beautiful landscape overlooking the Carse of Stirling with breath-taking views across the valley to the Trossachs. It owes much to the building in the 1700s of the military road from Stirling to Dumbarton as it lay at the junction between this and a traditional drove route south over the hills to Fintry
Kippen's church was first mentioned in public records in the 1300s, though by this time it had been used as the burial place for the Earls of Menteith for many generations.
The earliest buildings in Kippen today date back to the late 1600s and early 1700s and are gathered around the mercat cross and war memorial to the north of the main junction in the village. The remains of the nearby Old Kirk of Kippen date back to 1691, while the Black Bull Inn (now a private house) was built as a coaching inn in 1729. Also close by is the Smiddy, now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
Our picturesque and historic centre has easy connections to Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh. There is a mix of old and new housing which enjoy top rated local primary and secondary school, excellent health facilities and a small number of shops that supply most daily needs. There is a range of social, sporting, leisure and interest groups appealing to all ages. Also there are annual village events such as the Street Fayre, Flower Show and the Big Whist Cancer Appeal.
There is a Friends of Kippen Church Trust with a wide support to assist with the maintenance of the historic aspects of the fabric of the building. It is a recognition that the Church is a focal point within village life even amongst those who choose not to attend.