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Thursday 4 October 2007
PART 1 - THE CELTIC CHURCH
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It is intended by a series of articles to cover the rise of Christianity in this Parish from the earliest up to comparatively recent times and obviously the best place to start is at the beginnings of Christianity in Scotland with,
THE CELTIC CHURCH
This is reputed to have been set up in Lochalsh (or as the old records put it - Lochelsh in Northern Erchadia Borealis or North Argyle) in the early part of the 8th century by Comgan (Congan, Cowan, Coan - the Gaelic pronounciation gives us Cowan) who was the Irish chieftain and the son of Ceallach Cualann, a prince of Leinster. Comgan succeeded his father in 715, but within 2 years was defeated in battle and exiled to Scotland along with his sister Kentigerna and Fillan, her son - all notable names in the Celtic Church.
Cogman founded a small monastry, which was probably little more than a cell, and which is thought to have been in the neighbourhood of the present church at Kirkton. The place names, Kilchoan and Kilcongen are believed to record his memory. His nephew, Fillan seems to have worked with him for some time giving his name to the Killilans area. On Comgan's death, Fillan buried him in Iona and is reputed to have built a church in the Lochalsh area to his memory. His Feast Day, which was important in the early Celtic and Roman Churches was on the 13th October and the superstitions attached to that were a constant trouble to our early Presbyterian Fathers. Indeed, as late as 1656, reference is made in the records to the practice in Lochalsh and other neighbouring parishes, of sacrificing bulls and making offerings of milk on the 27th of August to St Mourie who was really one of the old Celtic pagan gods but who had, over the centuries become confused with Maelrubha of Applecross, one of the saints of the early church who died in 722.
We tend to romanticise about the past and visualise a flourishing church in the area similar to our own but that was probably far from the case. Every record of the time shows that ignorance was almost universal and, as the people could neither read nor write, any instruction in the Bible could only have been given by word of mouth making very little impact apart from the legacy of superstition.
Within the neighbourhood of the present church at Kirkton there is a hill or knoll, 200ft in height, know as "Angel's Hill" (Cnoc-an-Dingeil or Cnoc-an-Aingeal) which has a burial ground at the top formed by carrying earth and filling up the old fort and its outworks. It is an ancient burial ground, although still in use in recent times, and it is reputed that possibly Angus MacDonald (MacDonell), chief of Glengarry, who claimed Lochalsh through marriage, was in fact buried there.
At the south base of this hill there was, at one time, a stone circle which gave the name to the village, Clachan of Kirkton and which, one might day-dream into believing, could also have been the site of St Comgan's monastry - why not, it is as good a place as any!
The period between 800 to the 1050's is a dark one in the annals of the church. This was the time of the Norse invasions and this area was not alone in feeling the effects of that. When the light shone once again, we find that the old Celtic Church and its monastic system was virtually non existent, and the lands, as a rule, in the hands of lay abbots, who were much more warriors than churchmen.
It is idle to speculate just how much of Comgan's work was permanent but surely no one would dare to say that, in his day and age, his labours were in vain. Our Christian heritage could have been very much poorer without the work of Comgan and the other Celtic Saints.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: I will publish the next chapter as soon as it is typed up and checked. Please be patient and hope this has whetted your appetite!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is intended by a series of articles to cover the rise of Christianity in this Parish from the earliest up to comparatively recent times and obviously the best place to start is at the beginnings of Christianity in Scotland with,
THE CELTIC CHURCH
This is reputed to have been set up in Lochalsh (or as the old records put it - Lochelsh in Northern Erchadia Borealis or North Argyle) in the early part of the 8th century by Comgan (Congan, Cowan, Coan - the Gaelic pronounciation gives us Cowan) who was the Irish chieftain and the son of Ceallach Cualann, a prince of Leinster. Comgan succeeded his father in 715, but within 2 years was defeated in battle and exiled to Scotland along with his sister Kentigerna and Fillan, her son - all notable names in the Celtic Church.
Cogman founded a small monastry, which was probably little more than a cell, and which is thought to have been in the neighbourhood of the present church at Kirkton. The place names, Kilchoan and Kilcongen are believed to record his memory. His nephew, Fillan seems to have worked with him for some time giving his name to the Killilans area. On Comgan's death, Fillan buried him in Iona and is reputed to have built a church in the Lochalsh area to his memory. His Feast Day, which was important in the early Celtic and Roman Churches was on the 13th October and the superstitions attached to that were a constant trouble to our early Presbyterian Fathers. Indeed, as late as 1656, reference is made in the records to the practice in Lochalsh and other neighbouring parishes, of sacrificing bulls and making offerings of milk on the 27th of August to St Mourie who was really one of the old Celtic pagan gods but who had, over the centuries become confused with Maelrubha of Applecross, one of the saints of the early church who died in 722.
We tend to romanticise about the past and visualise a flourishing church in the area similar to our own but that was probably far from the case. Every record of the time shows that ignorance was almost universal and, as the people could neither read nor write, any instruction in the Bible could only have been given by word of mouth making very little impact apart from the legacy of superstition.
Within the neighbourhood of the present church at Kirkton there is a hill or knoll, 200ft in height, know as "Angel's Hill" (Cnoc-an-Dingeil or Cnoc-an-Aingeal) which has a burial ground at the top formed by carrying earth and filling up the old fort and its outworks. It is an ancient burial ground, although still in use in recent times, and it is reputed that possibly Angus MacDonald (MacDonell), chief of Glengarry, who claimed Lochalsh through marriage, was in fact buried there.
At the south base of this hill there was, at one time, a stone circle which gave the name to the village, Clachan of Kirkton and which, one might day-dream into believing, could also have been the site of St Comgan's monastry - why not, it is as good a place as any!
The period between 800 to the 1050's is a dark one in the annals of the church. This was the time of the Norse invasions and this area was not alone in feeling the effects of that. When the light shone once again, we find that the old Celtic Church and its monastic system was virtually non existent, and the lands, as a rule, in the hands of lay abbots, who were much more warriors than churchmen.
It is idle to speculate just how much of Comgan's work was permanent but surely no one would dare to say that, in his day and age, his labours were in vain. Our Christian heritage could have been very much poorer without the work of Comgan and the other Celtic Saints.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: I will publish the next chapter as soon as it is typed up and checked. Please be patient and hope this has whetted your appetite!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
INTRODUCTION
~
Welcome to Lochalsh Parish Church which is situated in the beautiful Scottish West Highlands and close to the Isle of Skye.
This history was written by one of our members who, at the time, was Session Clerk and he has given permission for it to be published here.
The articles comprise 21 parts and came into my possession quite recently and on reading them, I felt they should be republished, having first appeared in the church magazine many years ago. Instead of producing a booklet I felt a better idea would be to publish this history on a website for all to read and print off their own copies should that be helpful.
I will be publishing each part separately as it is prepared rather than leave publishing till all 21 are finished and that way if you enjoy them, you can pop in regularly and see what's new!
Please click the links to the right to access each chapter individually.
Enjoy your reading.
Alf Willis
Welcome to Lochalsh Parish Church which is situated in the beautiful Scottish West Highlands and close to the Isle of Skye.
This history was written by one of our members who, at the time, was Session Clerk and he has given permission for it to be published here.
The articles comprise 21 parts and came into my possession quite recently and on reading them, I felt they should be republished, having first appeared in the church magazine many years ago. Instead of producing a booklet I felt a better idea would be to publish this history on a website for all to read and print off their own copies should that be helpful.
I will be publishing each part separately as it is prepared rather than leave publishing till all 21 are finished and that way if you enjoy them, you can pop in regularly and see what's new!
Please click the links to the right to access each chapter individually.
Enjoy your reading.
Alf Willis
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