Charity Buys Historic Church

Tuesday September 7 2021

A historic church in Argyll has been bought by a local charity, which will preserve the building and the site for future generations.

St Munn’s Church in Kilmun has been bought by Historic Kilmun, which aims to increase community involvement, improve access arrangements and generate funds towards preservation of the buildings.

The Grade A listed church features an incredibly rare water powered organ, stained glass created by renowned artist Stephen Adams, the Argyll Mausoleum that serves as the burial place for Dukes and Earls of Argyll dating back 500 years as well as the burial place of Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the UK to be on the General Medical Register.

While the church has not been an active place of worship for a number of years, Historic Kilmun was founded in 2009 and is based there, along with projects such as the Faith in Cowal pilgrim network and the ECHO (East Cowal Heritage Outdoors) Project.

Historic Kilmun announced earlier in the summer that it was in the process of buying the building from the Church of Scotland, and the ceremonial handover took place in front of an invited audience in late August when the Rev Janet MacKellar, Moderator of the Presbytery of Argyll, handed over the church key to Dinah McDonald, a founding member of Historic Kilmun.

Dinah McDonald said: “There has been a church on this site since the 7th century and we’re delighted that Historic Kilmun now has control of this remarkable historic and cultural asset from the Church of Scotland with a view to preserving it for generations to come.”

The church is open from March through to October on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (10am to 4pm) and by appointment.

Comments

Mrs Kathelyne M Edwards - Tuesday, September 7th, 2021

“Such wonderful news that this historic place with all its artistic and historical features will be preserved. Now that the Church of Scotland is having to pull up more of their socks and let buildings go as congregations must merge, this news of less pressure for the Church of Scotland as well as the congregation as they have handed this treasure to the safe hands of the charity Historic Kilmun.”

Add a reply

All fields are required. Email address will not be published.