Kilarrow Church, Bowmore, United Kingdom

Kilarow Parish Church is a rare round church commenced in 1767. Daniel Campbell the Younger brought Thomas Spalding to Islay for the specific purpose of building the church which was completed in 1769 and is therefore, in Islay, the oldest church building in which public worship takes place on a weekly basis. The Round Church is 18.2 metres in diameter and the walls are 0.85 metres thick. The main central pillar is 0.48 metres diameter at the base and is of timber, harled and plastered. The gallery of the church, which is 'U' shaped in plan, was added c.1830 and in some ways defeats the concept behind the original circular design whereby 'there were no corners in the church in which the Devil could hide.' The Round Church is open daily and well worth a visit.

References:

Islay Info

User Reviews

Donald Mackenzie (4 years ago)
Great service and very efficient staff,and always willing to offer help.

Robin Mccunn (5 years ago)
Thoroughly enjoyed the church service and the friendly and warm fellowship that we experienced. We worship here every time we visit Islay. Well worth the visit!

Gordon Paterson (6 years ago)
Very interesting building and unusual. Worth a visit.

Christopher Sewell (6 years ago)
Several years ago I spent a wonderful holiday on Islay (pronounced "I - luh" by its residents). And the Round Church is fascinating. I asked someone why it was built round and was told "Because the devil lurks in corners!"

Ruary Laidlaw (6 years ago)
A unique and well looked after church. The inside showed the structure off really well.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright radoslaw.maciejewski

Historic Site of the week

Ogrodzieniec Castle Ruins

Ogrodzieniec Castle is a ruined medieval castle originally built in the 14th–15th century by the W³odkowie Sulimczycy family. Established in the early 12th century, during the reign of Boles³aw III Wrymouth, the first stronghold was razed by the Tatars in 1241. In the mid-14th century a new gothic castle was built here to accommodate the Sulimczycy family. Surrounded by three high rocks, the castle was well integrated into the area. The defensive walls were built to close the circuit formed by the rocks, and a narrow opening between two of the rocks served as an entrance.

In 1470 the castle and lands were bought by the wealthy Cracovian townsmen, Ibram and Piotr Salomon. Then, Ogrodzieniec became the property of Jan Feliks Rzeszowski, the rector of Przemy¶l and the canon of Cracow. The owners of the castle about that time were also Jan and Andrzej Rzeszowskis, and later Pilecki and Che³miñski families. In 1523 the castle was bought by Jan Boner.

Kilarrow Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Ogrodzieniec Castle Ruins