Kilmore Church, Dervaig, Isle of Mull.

Church of Scotland
Kilmore Church
Dervaig, Isle of Mull

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Old Kilmore

Kilmore from the old drover's road

By the late 1890’s there were continual complaints about the state of the old Church, and it was reported that the worshippers were colder and wetter indoors than had they remained outside. Consequently a decision was taken to replace the building, and the architect P. MacGregor Chalmers (1859-1922) was entrusted with the designs for the new building. By 1902, he was already regarded as one of the most foremost church designers and restoration architects. He had set up his own practice in Glasgow in 1887, and had already carried out many prestigious commissions by the time he was asked to design a new Church for Kilmore.

His preference for, and expertise in the subject of Romanesque and Scottish Medieval architecture is strongly reflected in the plan for Kilmore, but also incorporates both the simplicity of the Arts and Crafts Movement, much in vogue at the time, and more than a dash of Celtic historical flair.

His design for the tower was strongly influenced by the ancient Irish watchtowers of Cashel, Enniskillen, Clonmacnoise and Kilmacduagh to name but a few, although in Kilmore’s case, it forms an integral part of the simple rectangular church building, and is not a freestanding tower, as in many Irish examples.

Dr. Petrie, the eminent Irish historian, asserts “that these are of Christian ecclesiastical origin, built between the fifth and thirteenth centuries by the Norman invaders of Ireland, mostly as belfries.”

The example at Kilmore follows the Irish pattern, having windows and internal wooden floors, although no exterior doorway, and an upper section which carries a bell, itself fully restored by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 2004.

At the east end, there is a simple, miniature Romanesque semi-circular Apse, under a sloping slated roof, incorporating two lancet windows, each containing panels of fine stained glass by Stephen Adam Snr..

The main part of the rectangular building is entered through a simple porched doorway. There are five stained glass panels along the east side of the church, imitated by plain glass windows on the west side. Two plain glass rectangular lights complete the west end.

Between Autumn 2003 and the early summer of 2004, the Church underwent a complete restoration to the fabric, and was supported in this with grants from Historic Scotland, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Round Tower Society.

Kilmore Church with snow-capped Benmore in the background