Hidden Scotland
×
  • Destinations
  • Magazine
  • Stockists
  • Where to Stay
  • See & do
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My dashboard
  • Planning tools
  • What's nearby
  • My favourites
  • Log your travels
  • Weekly journal
  • Settings
Hidden Scotland
MENU

The Hidden Beauty of St Conan’s Kirk

By Graeme Johncock

The Hidden Beauty of St Conan’s Kirk
The Hidden Beauty of St Conan’s Kirk

Words by Graeme Johncock, photographs by Simon Hird

On the banks of Loch Awe sits one of the most peculiar churches in Scotland. Designed and built by Walter Campbell, a visit to St Conan’s Kirk will take you on an extraordinary journey through almost every era of Scottish architecture.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Walter and his family moved into a grand mansion on the small island of Innis Chonain. With a beautiful house on a serene loch, this was the perfect place for a quiet life. The only problem was that Walter’s elderly mother found it difficult to travel all the way to Dalmally every Sunday for the church service. Her son couldn’t move their house any closer to the church, so he did the next best thing.

A small church was built nearby to suit his mother’s immediate needs, but Walterwasn’t going to settle for such an ordinary building. He set about embellishing and expanding St Conan’s Kirk to include architectural features from different periods of Scottish church building. Norman and Saxon towers lead into Medievaland Gothic features. Walter was fast forwarding his modern church through all ofthe centuries that it had missed.

 

Photograph by @simonhird

Photograph by @simonhird

St Conan’s made up for its young age by incorporating historic materials into the fabric of the building. Stonework was recycled from the old church at Inchinnan, ornate windows were brought from both the holy island of Iona and South Leith Parish Church. Great granite boulders were collected from nearby Ben Cruachan and oak beams were even included from two salvaged Royal Navy warships.

To add to St Conan’s embracement of history, a chapel containing an effigy of King Robert the Bruce was included in the design. A fragment of the King’s boneis kept alongside the carving as if this was a medieval cathedral and the monarch was a saint. The chapel commemorates the Battle of the Pass of Brander that took place just a few miles away.

In 1308, Robert and his army marched through the Pass of Brander while
MacDougall warriors waited to attack them from the slopes above. However, the
King had laid a trap and a group of archers under James Douglas were waiting
even higher up the mountain. Caught between the two forces, the MacDougalls
were defeated and Robert the Bruce had finally secured this corner of Scotland.
St.Conan'sKirk1

Photograph by @simonhird

Unfortunately, the elaborate St Conan’s Kirk took so long to build that Walter didn’t live to see his creation finished. After he died in 1914, his sister Helen carried on the building work to make sure that the eclectic mix of designs would be finished just as her brother had wanted. By the time the church was officially opened in 1930, Helen had also passed away. Both siblings are buried here in the St Bride’s Chapel taking pride of place in their joint creation.

Photograph by @simonhird

Photograph by @simonhird

What started as a son’s gift to his elderly mother has resulted in one of the most unique pieces of architecture anywhere in Scotland. It’s said that Walter wanted to achieve beauty rather than consistency and clearly, he succeeded.

Written by Graeme Johncock

Graeme is the writer and storyteller behind Scotland’s Stories, sharing the traditional folklore and legends that make Scotland truly incredible.

St.Conan'sKirk1

No listings with this search

Hidden Scotland

JOIN THE

HIDDEN SCOTLAND

COMMUNITY

Continue to the website

Follow us on
Instagram

Follow us on Instagram

Your journey awaits

Join our mailing list to receive our weekly journal, where a journey of discovery awaits.

Join the Hidden Scotland community

Share your adventures with #hiddenscotland

  • About us
  • Studio
  • Press
  • Contact
×
  • The Magazine
  • Destinations
  • My Travel Stories
  • Where to stay
  • Things to do
  • Tours to take
  • Exclusive Use Venues
  • Offers
  • Knowledge
  • Journal
×

WIN

A 2 NIGHT STAY

AT THE GART MANSION

This prize includes a champagne reception, three course meal and a breakfast hamper on both mornings. And is worth over £10,000.

Account with this email already exists

Already have an account? log in here

Thank You!

You are now signed up for the Hidden Scotland Journal, a free weekly email. Would you also like to gain free access to the full features of Hidden Scotland? To find out more sign up below.

Account with this email already exists
No Thanks

Join Hidden Scotland Today

Account with this email already exists

Already have an account ? Log in here

Login with Google Login with Facebook

By entering your email, you agreee to recieve marketing emails from Hidden Scotland

or sign up with email

Invalid Login

Sign In To Hidden Scotland

Don't have an account ?Sign up here

Forgot your Password ?
Login with Google Login with Facebook