Kilmory Knap Chapel is a 13th-century Christian chapel, located at the tiny hamlet of Kilmory, in

Knapdale Knapdale ( gd, Cnapadal, IPA: �kraʰpət̪əɫ̪ forms a rural district of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. It includes two parishes, ...

Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020) ...

, on the west coast of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. Kilmory Knap Chapel is on Ellary Estate, next to

Loch Sween ''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gaelic, Scots and Irish word for a lake or sea inlet. It is cognate with the Manx lough, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh words for lake, llwch. In English English and Hiberno-English, the anglicised spelling ...

, on the opposite shore to

Keills Chapel Keills Chapel is a small chapel located in the west Highlands, Scotland, near the village of Tayvallich, Knapdale. The chapel dates from the 11th century and is in the care of Historic Scotland as is Kilmory Knap Chapel on the opposite shore of ...

. When the roof was lost the building was used as a burial enclosure. The structure was re-roofed in 1934 to hold a large collection of Early Christian cross slabs, late medieval graveslabs and

standing cross A high cross or standing cross ( ga, cros ard / ardchros, gd, crois àrd / àrd-chrois, cy, croes uchel / croes eglwysig) is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval traditi ...

es of West Highland type, from the 14th to 16th centuries. The chapel is an important historical site of

Clan Macmillan Clan MacMillan is a Highland Scottish clan. The Clan was originally located in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands during the 12th century. The clan supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence, but later supported ...

(of Knap). In the church is Macmillan's Cross, a well-preserved piece of medieval carving, portraying the Chief of the clan with hunting dogs. The chapel and cross are cared for by

Historic Scotland Historic Scotland ( gd, Alba Aosmhor) was an executive agency of the Scottish Office and later the Scottish Government from 1991 to 2015, responsible for safeguarding Scotland's built heritage, and promoting its understanding and enjoyment. ...

on behalf of the State and are a

scheduled monument In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...

. Simon Brighton associates Kilmory Knap Chapel with the

Knights Templar , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

, suggesting the area may have given refuge to Templars fleeing persecution in France.

Footnotes

External links

*Historic Environment Scotland
Visitor guide
Knapdale Churches in Argyll and Bute Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Argyll and Bute Museums in Argyll and Bute Religious museums in Scotland Historic Scotland properties in Argyll and Bute {{Scotland-church-stub

Footnotes

Further reading

External links