Cille Choirill facts for kids
Cille Choirill is a very old church in Scotland, built in the 1400s. It is a Roman Catholic church located in a beautiful area called Glen Spean in Lochaber. This historic church is named after St Kerrill, who is also known as Cyril. Many people believe that the church was built by a powerful Scottish family, the Camerons of Lochiel.
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History of Cille Choirill
Early Mentions of the Church
Records show that Cille Choirill was likely mentioned way back in 1466. This was in a special request sent to the Pope, who is the head of the Catholic Church. In this request, a priest asked for permission to serve in the local church of Lochaber and its small chapel, which was called 'Querelo'. This name is thought to refer to Cille Choirill.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
Over many years, the church fell into disrepair and even lost its roof. But in 1932 and 1933, Cille Choirill was carefully repaired. The money for these repairs came from a special place: Nova Scotia, a province in Canada. Many families from Lochaber had moved to Nova Scotia a long time ago, and their descendants helped to restore this important piece of their heritage.
Cille Choirill Today
Today, Cille Choirill is part of the St Margaret's Roman Catholic parish. It is still used for Mass, which is a special church service. These services happen once a month during the summer.
Famous Burials at the Church
The churchyard at Cille Choirill is also a significant place. Two famous Gaelic poets are buried there. One is Iain Lom, a well-known poet from the 17th century. The other is Dòmhnall Mac Fhionnlaigh nan Dàn. Their graves make the churchyard an important spot for Scottish history and literature.
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