Welcome to St Molios Church of Scotland, Shiskine.
History
St Molios Church Shiskine - A Brief History
The
Red Church was opened for worship on 21st July 1889. This event
testified to the faith and commitment of generations of Christian
people. The expansion has continued. In 1962 a Guild Room and kitchen
were added to the church. In 1964 the kitchen and Vestry were let out
to the Board of Health twice a week for physiotherapy. Thereafter the
toilets were altered to ensure access, for disabled people and
improvements to the kitchen and hall were carried out. The new manse
was
built in 1978.
Extract from “A Brief History of St Molios Church Shiskine”.
The first church at Clachan was built in 1708 and dedicated to St Michael. The name is preserved in several local place names, i.e. Balmichael (farm of Michael). An earlier chapel on the site is shown on Bleau's map (dated 1654) and was dedicated to St Molios. The minister preached at Clachan once a month and three times a month in Kilmory. Bryce noted that on other Sundays the members were perfectly content to worship in the Free Church, where they were also welcome. But a communion would only be celebrated at Kilmory.
The islanders owed allegiance to the House of Hamilton. After the Reformation they happily adopted the reformed church along with their overlords. But by the significant year 1843 the island had been subjected to the hugely unpopular clearance of whole villages to suit the whims of the present Earl. The people of Arran showed their disaffection in the only way they could, by rejecting the established church in favour of the newly formed Free Church.
The Clearances had upset the life-style of thousands in the Highlands and Islands. Arran's landscape is dotted with the ruins of former villages. No longer could the Duke automatically command the loyal support of the islanders. Churches were emptied, and the Shiskine congregation repaired to the 'preaching cave' at Kilpatrick, taking with them William McKinnon as their preacher and pastor, a cottar who had been hard hit by the brutal land reforms.
It was decided to build a new church in Shiskine in 1886 and a committee was duly set up. It was, at first intended, to build a chapel of ease to replace Clachan church which was becoming leaky. The book of account shows that donations came from far and wide. Especially from Glasgow and Edinburgh, but also from further afield. Many donations were from Arran, and in 1888 a sum of £250 was given by the Duke of Hamilton. The fund rose slowly as many donations were small. After two years building started, to a design of Sir James Burnet, and was completed in eighteen months. The total cost was £ 1,900, the fund closing in 1895 after a spate of concerts and other fund-raising activities. Plans had not originally included a bell, but a special meeting of 1889 agreed on this addition at a cost of £30. It actually cost £70.
Extract from “A Brief History of St Molios Church Shiskine”.
The first church at Clachan was built in 1708 and dedicated to St Michael. The name is preserved in several local place names, i.e. Balmichael (farm of Michael). An earlier chapel on the site is shown on Bleau's map (dated 1654) and was dedicated to St Molios. The minister preached at Clachan once a month and three times a month in Kilmory. Bryce noted that on other Sundays the members were perfectly content to worship in the Free Church, where they were also welcome. But a communion would only be celebrated at Kilmory.
The islanders owed allegiance to the House of Hamilton. After the Reformation they happily adopted the reformed church along with their overlords. But by the significant year 1843 the island had been subjected to the hugely unpopular clearance of whole villages to suit the whims of the present Earl. The people of Arran showed their disaffection in the only way they could, by rejecting the established church in favour of the newly formed Free Church.
The Clearances had upset the life-style of thousands in the Highlands and Islands. Arran's landscape is dotted with the ruins of former villages. No longer could the Duke automatically command the loyal support of the islanders. Churches were emptied, and the Shiskine congregation repaired to the 'preaching cave' at Kilpatrick, taking with them William McKinnon as their preacher and pastor, a cottar who had been hard hit by the brutal land reforms.
It was decided to build a new church in Shiskine in 1886 and a committee was duly set up. It was, at first intended, to build a chapel of ease to replace Clachan church which was becoming leaky. The book of account shows that donations came from far and wide. Especially from Glasgow and Edinburgh, but also from further afield. Many donations were from Arran, and in 1888 a sum of £250 was given by the Duke of Hamilton. The fund rose slowly as many donations were small. After two years building started, to a design of Sir James Burnet, and was completed in eighteen months. The total cost was £ 1,900, the fund closing in 1895 after a spate of concerts and other fund-raising activities. Plans had not originally included a bell, but a special meeting of 1889 agreed on this addition at a cost of £30. It actually cost £70.
The full article can be viewed through this link.
St Molios Church |
