St Kiaran's Church Services
Sundays at 10.30am
The Church is open daily and welcomes all visitors.
Location
Situated on the Islay coast, midway between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte, St Kiaran's Church is set back from the main road (A847) with panoramic sea views.
St Kiaran's Church History
In 1794 the minister of Kilchoman Parish Church, Islay, complained that the church building was situated too far from the outer limits of its parish, and in 1842 this was echoed by another minister who said the church was too far from the most populated areas. Despite the ministers' concerns, it was not until the end of the century that it was finally decided to build a church between the villages of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich. The old parish church remained open, so the new church was named St Kiaran’s – after St Ciaran, a contemporary of St Columba, who had established a church in Islay at Kilchiaran in the north west, before travelling on to Iona. In the early 1960s the old parish church closed, allowing St Kiaran’s to become known also as Kilchoman Parish Church.
The architect was Peter MacGregor Chalmers of Glasgow, who worked almost exclusively on Scottish country churches. Chalmers was known for his distinctive Norman Revival style, with semi-circular arches, round-headed windows, and sturdy, robust stonework. The building firm awarded the contract was D & J MacGillivray of Bowmore. The land was granted by Charles Morrison, and Lady Morrison laid the foundation stone in 1898. On 29 October 1899, ‘a day of storm and tempest’, the church was dedicated at the opening service – a service in Gaelic followed by a service in English.
In more recent years, two war memorials have been installed in the church in memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War and in the Second World War.
