350px, Dalavich Church in Argyll Dalavich Church is a

kirk Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it. Basic meaning and etymology As a common noun, ''kirk'' ...

(church) in the settlement of

Dalavich Dalavich ( gd, Dail Abhaich) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the western bank of Loch Awe and has a population of around 70. It is located from the main town and port of Oban, connected by the villages of Kilchrenan and Ta ...

in the Lorne district of

Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...

in Scotland, belonging to the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...

. It is situated south of Taynuilt and south–west of

Kilchrenan Kilchrenan ( gd, Cill Chrèanain) is a small village in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland. Kilchrenan is located near to the end of the B845 road, about inland from Loch Awe. It forms part of the area of Avich and Kilchrenan Community Counci ...

on the B845 road on the western shore of

Loch Awe Loch Awe (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Obha'') is a large body of freshwater in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such ...

History

Dalavich, originates from the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

meaning "meadows near the River Avich". This small but handsome church, situated in idyllic surroundings near the shores of Loch Awe, was built in 1770 on the site of a much earlier church of rubble stone and is a category C(s) building. Built in traditional style, small and oblong, the church is embellished by round headed windows and is enclosed by a burial ground. A small bell tower was added to celebrate the millennium. It contains a stained glass window commemorating the life of local schoolmaster, Mr. Macpherson who lived across the loch at Ardchonnel. The earliest church in the area was just north of the hamlet at Kilmun, north of the River Avich between

Loch Avich Loch of Avich is a large freshwater loch that lies approximately west of Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute in Scotland. It is the second biggest loch in the Etive basin after Loch Awe. It trends east-northeast, west-southwest and is narrowly triangul ...

and Loch Awe; that chapel was dedicated to St. Munnu.

In ancient times

A monk by the name of St. Mochoe of Nendrum, was reputed to live, as a hermit, near Dalavich where his 'living quarters' can still be seen. It is thought to be the earliest ecclesiastical site in Argyll, even older than those associated with

St. Columba Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...

. The standing stones of that site are now in the custody and care of Dalavich Church.

Today

Dalavich Church is co–joined with Kilchrenan Church and Muckcairn Church at Taynuilt.

Post–Reformation ministers

* 1570 Neil Malcolm * 1610 John Malcolm, son of above

References

{{coord, 56, 15, 37.94, N, 5, 16, 55.07, W, region:GB, display=title Churches in Argyll and Bute Category C listed buildings in Argyll and Bute Church of Scotland churches in Scotland Listed churches in Scotland