Chapel of St Fyndoca
Encyclopedia
The Chapel of St Fyndoca (alternate: Fyndoc, or Findoc) is located on the island of Inishail
in Loch Awe
, Scotland
.
the church of St. Findoc of Inchealt, in the Diocese of Argyll
, with all tithes, etc., pertaining to the said church. This is the church of Inishail, a parish which included the island of that name in Lochawe, several smaller islands, and land on both sides of the loch. The parish church was in the island. The church remained the possession of the abbey till the Reformation
."
The parish church is mentioned by Fordun about 1400.
In 1529, Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll
, for the honour of God, of the Virgin Mary, of Saint Fyndoc, and of all the saints, granted to Duncan Makcaus, with remainder in succession to his brothers Ewen and Alexander, and to his own heirs whomsoever, the lands of Barindryane in the lordship of Lochaw of the old entent of twenty shillings, to be held of the Earl in heritage and charitable alms, on condition that the grantees and their heirs should at their own expense becomingly maintain the chapel of Saint Fyndoc, founded in the island of Inchald (Inishail), and cause one mass to be celebrated there every week for the wealth of the souls of King James V
, of his predecessors and successors, of the Earl's deceased father Colin
, and mother Jonet, Earl and Countess of Ergyle, of himself, his predecessors and his successors, and of all the faithful dead. In 1556, the grant was confirmed by Queen Mary.
In 1736, service was discontinued in the 'ruinous chapel' on the island of Inishail, and a church more commodious for the parish was built on the south side of the loch opposite Inishail. The old parish of Inishail included some of the adjacent islands, as well as part of the mainland on each side of the loch.
are the fragments of the walls of the small chapel building, enclosing a space choked up with stones and a growth of nettles and other weeds. A larger space is protected by an iron fence. The MacArthur clan has graves here, as well as the 12th Duke of Argyll after his death in April 2001.
Cross
About the centre of the area enclosed by the remains of the walls is an early cross carved with a similar design on the other side. The surface is very much weathered, but it does not seem ever to have borne any carving beyond what is shown on my drawing. Exclusive of the base into which it is socketed, it measures 5 feet 3 inches in height, 1 foot 3 inches across the top, and 1 foot 8 inches at the broadest part where the cross occurs. The carving at the parts most highly relieved is about an inch, the sharpest cutting being at the inner edges of the small circles, which are slightly convex on the sunken surface.
Stones and slabs
Outside of the ruin, but within the fenced enclosure, there are several stones which may be assigned to the 14th and 15th centuries. Some of them are so defaced that only the faintest indications of carving are visible. The one which is perhaps the most notable of these owes its better condition to the deeper cutting. It is now lying flat like a grave-stone, but it probably originally served another purpose, perhaps an altar frontal or door lintel. It has figures of armed men. About the centre is the crucified Saviour, with a figure at his right side holding up a chalice; this figure, though so rudely executed and defaced, is doubtless the personification of the Church receiving the Saviour's blood in the chalice, which was so commonly included among the accessories of the Crucifixion in the Middle Ages. The remainder of the stone is evidently heraldic, showing a shield bearing a one-masted galley, over which is what has probably been meant for a crest, and bearing some faint resemblance to a boar's head. Two armed men appear as supporters. The stone is probably connected with the Campbells of Lochow, which family, at a later date, have for supporters an armed man holding a spear, and a lady holding a missive letter; they bear as their arms a galley with oars in action for Lorn, with a boar's head for crest.
On the left side, after entering by the gate, is a stone, in fairly good condition. It resembles one of those at Kilmartin. It bears, near the top, a man armed with a sword and spear, under which are two animals, their feet rolling away in interlaced foliated ornament. It is 6 feet in length by 22 inches at the top, narrowing slightly downwards.
Close beside this is a slab bearing vestiges of a cross formed of interlaced circles with suggestions of a little foliage—all very much worn away. The shaft, which has been decorated, is 3 inches wide. The stone measures 5 feet 10 inches in length, 22 inches across the top, and 19 inches at the foot, near to which it is broken.
Inishail
Inishail is an island and former parish, in Loch Awe, Scotland.-Geography:The island lies at the north end of the loch in the council area of Argyll and Bute, between Cladich and Kilchurn...
in Loch Awe
Loch Awe
Loch Awe is a large body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe, or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such as Innis Chonnell and Inishail.- The loch :It is the third largest freshwater loch in Scotland with...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
In the Origines Parochiales Scotiae, the following was noted: "The year 1257 is marked by the gift of two churches to the abbey. Another son of Malcolm Macnauchtan, Athe by name, with the assent of his brother, Sir Gilbert, knight, gave to the abbot and canons of Inchaffray AbbeyInchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey was situated by the village of Madderty, midway between Perth and Crieff in Strathearn, Scotland. The only trace now visible is an earth mound and some walls on the island where the abbey once stood.-History:...
the church of St. Findoc of Inchealt, in the Diocese of Argyll
Diocese of Argyll
The Diocese of Argyll was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Argyll, and was based at Lismore....
, with all tithes, etc., pertaining to the said church. This is the church of Inishail, a parish which included the island of that name in Lochawe, several smaller islands, and land on both sides of the loch. The parish church was in the island. The church remained the possession of the abbey till the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
."
The parish church is mentioned by Fordun about 1400.
In 1529, Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll
Gillespie Roy Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician.-Biography:He was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll and Jean Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly...
, for the honour of God, of the Virgin Mary, of Saint Fyndoc, and of all the saints, granted to Duncan Makcaus, with remainder in succession to his brothers Ewen and Alexander, and to his own heirs whomsoever, the lands of Barindryane in the lordship of Lochaw of the old entent of twenty shillings, to be held of the Earl in heritage and charitable alms, on condition that the grantees and their heirs should at their own expense becomingly maintain the chapel of Saint Fyndoc, founded in the island of Inchald (Inishail), and cause one mass to be celebrated there every week for the wealth of the souls of King James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, of his predecessors and successors, of the Earl's deceased father Colin
Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. In 1506/07 he married Lady Jean Gordon, the eldest daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly...
, and mother Jonet, Earl and Countess of Ergyle, of himself, his predecessors and his successors, and of all the faithful dead. In 1556, the grant was confirmed by Queen Mary.
In 1736, service was discontinued in the 'ruinous chapel' on the island of Inishail, and a church more commodious for the parish was built on the south side of the loch opposite Inishail. The old parish of Inishail included some of the adjacent islands, as well as part of the mainland on each side of the loch.
Grounds
On a slight eminenceTopographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
are the fragments of the walls of the small chapel building, enclosing a space choked up with stones and a growth of nettles and other weeds. A larger space is protected by an iron fence. The MacArthur clan has graves here, as well as the 12th Duke of Argyll after his death in April 2001.
Cross
About the centre of the area enclosed by the remains of the walls is an early cross carved with a similar design on the other side. The surface is very much weathered, but it does not seem ever to have borne any carving beyond what is shown on my drawing. Exclusive of the base into which it is socketed, it measures 5 feet 3 inches in height, 1 foot 3 inches across the top, and 1 foot 8 inches at the broadest part where the cross occurs. The carving at the parts most highly relieved is about an inch, the sharpest cutting being at the inner edges of the small circles, which are slightly convex on the sunken surface.
Stones and slabs
Outside of the ruin, but within the fenced enclosure, there are several stones which may be assigned to the 14th and 15th centuries. Some of them are so defaced that only the faintest indications of carving are visible. The one which is perhaps the most notable of these owes its better condition to the deeper cutting. It is now lying flat like a grave-stone, but it probably originally served another purpose, perhaps an altar frontal or door lintel. It has figures of armed men. About the centre is the crucified Saviour, with a figure at his right side holding up a chalice; this figure, though so rudely executed and defaced, is doubtless the personification of the Church receiving the Saviour's blood in the chalice, which was so commonly included among the accessories of the Crucifixion in the Middle Ages. The remainder of the stone is evidently heraldic, showing a shield bearing a one-masted galley, over which is what has probably been meant for a crest, and bearing some faint resemblance to a boar's head. Two armed men appear as supporters. The stone is probably connected with the Campbells of Lochow, which family, at a later date, have for supporters an armed man holding a spear, and a lady holding a missive letter; they bear as their arms a galley with oars in action for Lorn, with a boar's head for crest.
On the left side, after entering by the gate, is a stone, in fairly good condition. It resembles one of those at Kilmartin. It bears, near the top, a man armed with a sword and spear, under which are two animals, their feet rolling away in interlaced foliated ornament. It is 6 feet in length by 22 inches at the top, narrowing slightly downwards.
Close beside this is a slab bearing vestiges of a cross formed of interlaced circles with suggestions of a little foliage—all very much worn away. The shaft, which has been decorated, is 3 inches wide. The stone measures 5 feet 10 inches in length, 22 inches across the top, and 19 inches at the foot, near to which it is broken.