Eilean Fhianain, St Finnan's Chapel

Heritage listing

Date Added 11/12/1995 Supplementary Information Updated 03/02/2021 Type Crosses and carved stones: cross (free-standing); cross-incised stone; sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type), Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; church Local Authority Highland Parish Arisaig And Moidart NGR NM 75207 68340 Coordinates 175207, 768340 — The monument consists of the remains of the medieval church of St Finnan and an area of the burial ground which contains several large stone crosses, situated on the Burial Isle of Eilean Fhianain in Loch Shiel. The ancient parish Eilean-Finan, now included in Ardnamurchan, took its name from the island. The medieval church may stand on the site of a cell thought to have been built on the island by St Finnan in the seventh century. The island was a burial place of Clan Ranald until the end of the sixteenth century and the church is thought to have been built by Alan MacRuaridh, a Clan Chief. The building fell into ruin in the mid seventeenth century. It is of random-coursed rubble masonry, and measures 20.8m E-W by 5.8m N-S within walls 0.95m thick and about 2m in maximum height. The walls are much reduced and have been repaired over the years, although some areas of original masonry survive. No dressings survive. There have been four windows in the N wall and near the E end is a square aumbry. In the S wall are traces of three windows and an entrance towards the W end. The W wall had a central window. The E end of the church contains a large stone altar table, a stone crucifix set into a wall recess and a small medieval bell. The interior of the church is filled with burials, including one late medieval stone with a central claymore and foliate design. 50m to the N of the church, amongst congested plain grave markers

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.