Kilchoan Old Parish Church

Go to map

Kilchoan Old Parish Church

Brief History

Kilchoan Old Parish Church sits on a low hill overlooking Kilchoan Bay, and has served the community for some 700 years. The original church on this site was dedicated to the Irish monk St Comghan, who lived in the first half of the 8th century. Although no evidence of the original church remains, some of the lower parts of the west and east gables date from the 12th or 13th century.

Kilchoan Old Parish Church is located in the eastern end of The Old Cemetery, which contains over a hundred marked graves, the oldest - The MacIain grave slabs - dating back to the 14th or 15th century. The graveyard was still in use in the 20th century.

Click here to find out more about Kilchoan Old Parish Church

Go to map

old-church thumbnail

This sketch, by artist Rachael Kidd, shows the church as it might have looked in 1800.

© Rachael Kidd

The south facade is as we see it today but the west gable end has a ‘bell cot’ and a window.

Kilchoan Old Parish Church.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Kilchoan Old Parish Church, February 2022.

© ica

Mapmaker: John Cowley in 1734.

© National Library of Scotland

Section of Cowley's 1734 map, titled 'A plan and perspective of the improved lands of Mingary’

Kilchoan Old Parish Church, February 2022.

© ica

One of the MacIain slabs

© ica

old-church thumbnail

This sketch, by artist Rachael Kidd, shows the church as it might have looked in 1800.

© Rachael Kidd

The south facade is as we see it today but the west gable end has a ‘bell cot’ and a window.

Kilchoan Old Parish Church.

© Ardnamurchan History and Heritage Association

Kilchoan Old Parish Church, February 2022.

© ica

Mapmaker: John Cowley in 1734.

© National Library of Scotland

Section of Cowley's 1734 map, titled 'A plan and perspective of the improved lands of Mingary’

Kilchoan Old Parish Church, February 2022.

© ica

One of the MacIain slabs

© ica

Oldest Grave Slabs

On the two oldest grave slabs in the cemetery, you can see intricate carvings in the Iona School style. They both show the Birlinn symbol of Clan MacIain and a claymore - claidheamh mòr “great sword”.

Birlinn symbol of Clan MacIain.

Claymore carving.

Main Road

The main road in Kilchoan used to pass by the church. (source: John Cowleyʼs map, 1734).

Look out for...

A grave where only nettles and weeds grow, which belongs to the notorious factor John McColl, who was buried here in 1847. Folklore suggests that his cruelty in evicting people from settlements resulted in him being cursed so that nothing else would grow on his grave.

Explore how Kilchoan Old Parish Church has changed through time.

Eviction and Emigration

Early 19th century

The church fell into disrepair.

1831

Opening of the new Parish Church on a different site.

Click the characters to read their stories

We heard that the factor, John McColl was so cruel in evicting people from their homes that an old woman cursed him and nothing but weeds now grows on his grave.

Time of the Clans

1760s

Substantial rebuilding of the church took place.

14th century

The MacIain grave slabs were placed.

It was difficult to contain our excitement in church and we think the minister, Lachlan Campbell, might have suspected something. He was against our Jacobite cause and the last person we would want to know about the important passenger who had landed at Loch-nam-Uamh in a French ship. Word got out though and a message made its way to the Duke of Argyll in Inverary.

The ministers are appointed by the Laird and are not always welcomed by the people. I heard that when Duncan MacCalman arrived in 1627 the congregation consisted only of his family and the Church Officer. But the minister joined in with games of putt the stone - and because he was really good, locals came to like him and in time, the Church was full again.

When you visit take a look at the Maclain grave slabs, the two oldest grave slabs in the cemetery dating from the 14th or 15th century, you can see intricate carvings in the Iona School style, and they show the Birlinn symbol of Clan MacIain and a claymore - claidheamh mòr “great sword”.

Early Medieval

12th/13th century

The original church is built and dedicated to St Comghan.

8th Century

The Irish monk, St Comghan, visits Ardnamurchan.

We call the village ‘Kilchoan’ because of this church: The church (Cille) was dedicated to Saint Comghan (Chomhghain).

Use the map to explore the area and click on icons to visit other sites

Return to Kilchoan Old Parish Church