History of the Church in Inveraray

THE CHURCH

By Donald MacKechnie

English or Lowland and the Gaelic or Highland. A solid wall separated the two. Externally the two ends are identical. A

photocopy of Myne's plan is on display in the vestibule.

In each gable is a circular opening - a feature which Mylne used in many of the buildings at Inveraray and elsewhere. In

one is the Church Clock and in the other the Church Bell. The porticoes now railed in, originally gave access to the

galleries.

Much of the stone for the building came from Arran but there is a persistent story that some was quarried at Creag nan

Caorach (the Craigs is a headland south of the town). If true, it confirms a 16th century prophecy that Inveraray would never

be a town worth the name, till the bells rang on Creag nan Caorach.

In 1957 the Gaelic End was converted into a Church Hall and its gallery was enclosed to form the Paul Fraser Memorial Chapel; Rev Doctor Paul Fraser author

of the statistical Accounts of 1793, was Minister here when the Church was built. The dividing wall was pierced by a door.

Originally a tall slender spire rose from the centre of the church. Said to be unsafe, it was demolished in 1941. A fund for its replacement has been set up but

costs continue to outstrip donations. Lacking the spire, the Church is now squat and unimpressive, though still the centre of the town.

In 1898 at the instance of Duchess Ina, the third wife of the Eighth Duke, the English End was remodelled. The centre of the ceiling was opened to house an

imitation clerestory. The side ceilings were divided into panels, each decorated with Celtic trumpet pattern in brilliant red, blue and gold. Side galleries were

added to the Duke's and Magistrates' loft.

The old pulpit, the precentor's box, the heating stove, the box-seats and the Communion table were all discarded. Heating by hot water pipes was installed. An

American organ replaced the precentor and incidentally introduced the 1897 Hymnal.

Ornate brass gasaliers were suspended from the ceiling. An attractive terrazzo platform carried the new pulpit, an eagle lectern and a new Communion table all

backed by an artistic screen, made by Charles MacLaren and his son Edward. The gallery was faced with crimson silk.

Heart of a New Beginning - A History of the Parish Church of Glenaray and Inveraray

Church with Spire

THE PULPIT

The lofty hexagonal pulpit is a simplified copy of one in the Baptistry at Pisa. It was

made of yellow pine by Charles MacLaren and his son Edward, both Estate joiners.

The seven legs were turned on a lathe specially set up in the old mill at Carloonan.

Carved Figures - Mounted on the pulpit are three stucco figures and one wooden

figure of a Roman soldier.

THE COMMUNION TABLE

Communion Table

This too is of yellow pine and was made by the MacLarens. It stands on twenty legs, one of which is of a different from

the others.

The story is that two specimen legs of different patterns were made for the Duchess's consideration. Further legs of the

approved pattern were duly prepared.

However, on assembling the table, the men were horrified to find that only nineteen of the approved design had been

made. As time was short, the leg of the rejected pattern was substituted. It was never replaced. Few notice the stranger.

THE BELL

The bell in the south gable is the survivor of the two which hung in the steeple of the church in the old town of Inveraray. In the 1720's

they had become cracked and useless.

By the generosity of James Campbell of Stonefield, Sheriff-Depute of Argyll, they were taken to Edinburgh and recast.

The bell bears the Burgh Coat of Arms - five herrings in a net - and the motto, 'Halec semper tibi pendeat', 'may the

herring always stick to you.' The maker too is not forgotten - Robert Maxwell me fecit Edinburgh MDCCXXVIII - Robert

Maxwell made me at Edinburgh 1728. Robert is remembered as a man who liked ' a guid dram'.

The second bell was found unsuitable for a clock which the Town Council placed in the steeple in 1868. It was taken back to Glasgow and

exchanged for a smaller bell.

THE ELM CHAIRS

In the Magistates' Loft is a fine set of elm chairs. These were presents to the Church in 1805 by Provost Neil McGibbon.

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

LADY VICTORIA CAMPBELL

A brass plaque commemorates Lady Victoria Campbell, third daughter of the Eighth Duke of Argyll. At the age of five she was attacked

by Polio which left her for the rest of her life barely able to walk. The box seat in the Church was for her wheel-chair. She was not

deterred by her infirmity. She was a fiery Evangelist. She employed a Mrs Grant, 'the Bible woman', to go round the villages of Argyll to

read the Bible to the old and sick. She was one of the founders of the Scottish YMCA. For the local branch she built the Victoria Hall. In

a letter she replies, 'don't be deceived by my so-called patience; often I have fits of wild rebellion. I am trying to make plans for

usefulness'. In Tiree and the Ross of Mull in the 1880's, a time of starvation and unrest, (The Land League), she set up soup kitchens

and a milk in Schools Scheme. This was at a time when the House of Argyll was heartily hated by the people of Tiree.

The brass was made by Alexander Ritchie and his wife, Euphemia. Alexander, a marine engineer, had to give up his trade because of

illness. Lady Victoria sent him to Glasgow to learn the trade of Silversmith. He returned to Iona and set up the Iona Celtic Art Shop. He

made silver and brass items and Celtic patterns which he and his wife copied from old stones in Iona.

The letters at the foot of the brass, AER are their initials.

LORD WALTER CAMPBELL

In the Duke's loft is another memorial plaque - to Lord Walter Campbell. He was born in 1848 and died at Johannesburg, South Africa,

in 1889.

THE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL

This war memorial was unveiled by the late Elspeth Campbell on 7th September 1924. It bears 65 names, a sad loss to a small

community.

Rev Gillespie Campbell, Minister of the Gaelic congregation, compsed the Gaelic inscription:-

Mairidh an ainm agus an cliu gu suthainn

Clach air carn cuimhne nan laogh.

(Their name and their fame will last forever;

a stone on the cairn of memory of the heroes).

The Memorial bears also the Burning Bush, the Campbell motto 'Ne Obliviscaris' (Do not forget), the Galley of Lorn and on a small

lectern a book containing on vellum, the names of all who served in the War. (There are 216 names)

The cost of the memorial was paid for by the Woman's Guild.

THE 1939-1945 MEMORIAL

This War Memorial was unveiled on 10th January 1971 by Mr.John Campbell, MM (Drummer Campbell), a vetern of world War 1.

It bears 11 names.

Colynn C.F.Gillespie,

George Johnston,

James H.Mouat,

William K.Ross,

John F.Thursby.

Duncan A Blair,

William R.Buntain,

Donald B.Campbell,

Philip J.Devine,

Neil Douglas,

Alastair F.Gillespie,

THE COMMUNION SILVER

There are four pairs of silver cups. Each cup is inscribed.

1. 'The gift of James McNeilage, miller at Carlundon, to the Kirk Session of Inveraray'. In 1743 James McNeilage bequeathed money to the Highland Kirk

Session for the purchase of Communion Cups. In 1766 the Kirk Session bought the cups for £15.

2. 'This Cup is bequeathed to the Lowland Congregation of Inveraray by Giles Campbell, daughter to Colin Campbell of Bragleenmore, Anno 1771.'

3. 'Presented to the English Congregation of the Parish of Inveraray by Miss Janet Campbell of Ederline, MDCCXXXV.'

4. 'Presented to the Free Church Congregation, Inveraray, by Walter Malcolm, 26th December 1896, in memory of his wife Mary Smith who died 26th

December 1895.'

Two Silver patens with Celtic decoration, were given by the Woman's Guild in 1908, in memory of George Douglas Campbell (1823-1900), Eighth Duke of

Argyll.

A silver Flagon was presented by the Congregation in 1899, to commemorate the restoration of the Church.

THEIR WORK LIVES ON

(by MARY McNAUGHTON)

One of my most precious books is small and faded and called `The Hive and its Wonders'. On the flyleaf of this book is an inscription -1st Prize - Donald

McVicar, for Snr. Grammar, Bridge of Douglas School, 30th. March, 1859.'

This boy was my uncle, and he always had a kindly word and pleasant smile for a very shy girl.

He learned to be a stonemason and became foreman mason to the Duke of Argyll. Living in Inveraray, he devoted much of his time to church and public

service. The high regard in which he was held by his fellow townsmen was shown when they elected him Provost of the town. During his term of office he

presented the Freedom of the Burgh to one of Inveraray's most distinguished sons, the late Neil Munro, author of `Para Handy' and many other Highland

stories.

The Font

When the Duchess of Argyll decided to renovate the Parish Church, my uncle was instructed to make a baptismal font out of

beautiful white quartz, to be found in the surrounding district. His first attempt was beginning to take shape when the brittle

quartz disintegrated.

With infinite patience he carefully tried again and succeeded in getting it half finished before it split in two.

When he said he was unable to make the font from quartz, he was instructed to use bluestone, quarried at St Catherine's on

the opposite side of Loch Fyne. This bluestone font is still much admired by the present day worshippers in the Parish Church.

Charles and Edward McLaren, father and son, joiners who were natives of Inveraray, made the pulpit and communion table. All

the woodwork, excepting the heads of the apostles, was carved and fitted by them. Those quiet men were artists who enjoyed

the perfection of workmanship. Forgotten by succeeding generations, their work lives on, a sermon of service, giving of their

best in wood and stone.

Dedicated by the Authors -

Mrs Mary McNaughton, Ardchuple Bungalow, Colintraive

and Mr. Alasdair N. MacDonald, Glasgow.

To three devoted servants in whose hands the Lord's gift of timeless craftsmanship was vested. Their

works wrought here, inspiring all who would serve Him in this place.

Donald McVivar, 1848 - 1920.

Foreman mason to the Duke of Argyll and Provost of the Royal Burgh of Inveraray, 1908 - 1911.

Charles McLaren, 1845 - 1924.

Edward McLaren, 1874 - 1953.

Carpenters and Electricians to the Duke of Argyll.

YOUR WORK LIVES ON

Distinguished Donald, Mason Famed,

So skilled your hand

In full command

Its master you the stone proclaimed.

Great craftsmen, Charles, Edward son,

Full trained in wood,

As joiners should

The carver's crown you both have won.

Your work of art in stone and wood,

Remaining still,

Remain it will

Memorial meet, no better could.

In Inveraray's Kirk o' Scot

The font of stone

Is not Don's own

The masterpiece for God you wrought.

The pulpit there of woodwork fine

You Charles made

With Edward's aid

For heralds of the Word Divine.

So treasured there your work lives on

Remembered you

As tradesmen true

Artificers, though long time gone.

ALASDAIR N. MACDONALD

MINISTERS

FREE CHURCH

Robert Rose (1847-1889)

Donald C. Stewart (1889-1929)

The Free Church united with the U.P. Church in 1900 to form the United Free Church. The union of the U.F. Church and the Church of Scotland followed in 1929.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

James Hay (1838-1843)

Gilbert Meikle (1849-1895)

William Stirling (1895-1898)

HIGHLAND CHURCH

Patrick Campbell (1657)

Alexander Campbell (1701)

Alexander Campbell (1734)

Patrick Campbell (1745)

Archibald Campbell (1774)

James MacGibbon (1807)

Dr. Colin Smith (1831)