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Mid-Argyll - 10
Kilmartin Parish Church

Site/Artefact Kilmartin Parish Church Type Parish Church (in use), graveyard & carved stones Site Number National Grid Reference 1834 East 6988 North Map ( 1:25000) Ordnance Survey Explorer No 358 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Excavation Details
Not Available

Description
Kilmartin church, on a gravel terrace on Kilmartin Valley's east side, overlooks several prehistoric monuments. It was built in 1834-5 to replace a church of 1798. A vicar of Kilmartin is mentioned as early as 1304. The church and grounds contain a fine collection of Medieval graveslabs.

Though most of the large collection of carved stones are later medieval, there are three Early Christian carvings here in the churchyard, and a finely decorated cross in the church, probably from the 9th or 10th century

The modern church and the ancient graveyard dominate the raised terrace on which the village of Kilmartin has developed. The Bronze age Glebe cairn is visible above and to the left of the church. Kilmartin House museum is the white former manse building behind the church.

It is unusual in Argyll to have a church dedicated to a saint who is neither biblical (Mary or Michael) nor Gaelic (Columba, Bridget etc.). However, the dedication to Martin reflects an early medieval devotion to this saint from Tours in France, widespread in the Gaidhealtachd. The seventh century Life of Columba describes how Martin's name was mentioned in the mass on Iona; and several early medieval Gaelic prayers mention him.

Crosses appear in many contexts, but the Christian cemetery was the most common context of occurrence

Access/Ownership
The church and carved stones within the graveyard have free access all year.

References

• RCAHMS Argyll vol. 7 no. 68
• Origines Parochiales Scotiae, Bannatyne Club 1851-5, 2 part 1 p92 

Check out the following sections of the website for related information

• Crosses
• Iona
• Monastic or Episcopal
• Borg Church
• The Sign of the Cross
• Mayo Abbey

Mid-Argyll Sites and Artefacts

1. Kilmory Oib  2. Druim an Dúin  3. Duntroon  4. Dún Ardifur 1  5. Eilean Rígh 1  6. Dún Chonaillach  7. Loch Awe Crannogs  8. Torran Hoard  9. Dún na Nighinne 10. Kilmartin Parish Church 11. Temple Wood Stone Circles 12. Ogham stone, Poltalloch 13. Barnakil Cross 14. Kilbride Chapel 15. Kilbride Crosses 16. Dunadd Fort 17. In Nomine disk 18. Brooch Moulds 19. Dunadd cross-marked quern 20. Loch Glashan Crannog 21. Glebe Cairn

22. Nether Largie North 23. Nether Largie Mid 24. Nether Largie South 25. Ri Cruin 26. Nether Largie 27. Ballymeanoch - Stones 28. Ballymeanoch - Henge 29. Ballymeanoch - Cairn 30. Dunchragaig 31. Baluachraig 32. Carnassarie Castle 33. BallymeanocH - Barrow 34. Dun Mac Samhainn 35. Glenmoine, Upper Largie 36. Creag a' Mhadaidh 37. Carnassarie - Round Cairn 38. Carnasserie - Standing Stones 39. Carnasserie - Cist 40. Carnasserie Cottage 41. Upper Largie - Cist 42. Upper Largie - Rock Carvings

43. Nether Largie 44. Poltalloch - Cist 45. Poltalloch - cists 46. Bruach an Druimein 47. Dunchraigaig - Dun 48. Poltalloch - Round Cairn 49. Rownfield - Cist 50. Ballymeanoch - Cist 51. Poltalloch - Cists 52. Ballymeanoch - Dun 53. Dunadd - Standing Stones 54. Dunadd - Standing Stone 55. Baile Mor - Dun 56. Anaskeog - Rock Carvings 57. Bariole 58. Rhudil - Round Cairn 1 59. Rhudil - Round Cairn 2 60. Kilmartin Castle 61. Slockavullin 62. Rowanfield - Standing Stone 63. Poltalloch - Cremation

Mayo - Vestvågøy - Mid-Argyll

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