Kilnave Chapel

Heritage listing

Date Added 17/10/1963 Last Date Amended 05/12/1995 Type Crosses and carved stones: cross (free-standing), Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; chapel; monastic settlement Local Authority Argyll And Bute Parish Kilchoman NGR NR 28524 71518 Coordinates 128524, 671518 — The monument consists of a medieval chapel and Early Christian cross, together with part of the burial ground in which they stand. The chapel, which is probably of late medieval date, is roofless but otherwise almost intact, and measures 11.0m E-W by 6.1m N-S across walls 0.9m in thickness. It is built of rubble bonded in lime mortar and rows of putlog holes are visible in both gables. Internally, much original wall-plaster survives. The chapel is entered from the W through a segment-headed doorway with a draw bar socket. The footings of the altar remain, and this was lit from the S and the E by 2 round-headed windows with splayed internal jambs and stepped sills. No other windows are apparent. Local tradition holds that the chapel was burned in 1598, after the Battle of Traigh Ghruineard. The free-standing cross is probably of 8th-century date. It is carved of a single thin slab of stone 3.35m high and 6.5cm thick, and originally measured 1.04m across the arms. The cross head has deep armpits but no ring. The E face of the cross is carved in low relief in a series of 8 panels within a 5cm plain margin. The ornament includes interlace-work, spiral-work and one panel of key ornament. Fragments have broken off the head and both arms, and the surface has laminated badly. The W face is plain. The cross has since 1984 stood in a reconstructed cist-type base, fragments of which had been excavated following the temporary removal of the cross in 1981. The cross attests to the early ecclesiastical use

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.