Glenorchy Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenorchy Parish Church |
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Glenorchy Parish Church and Graveyard
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| Location | Dalmally |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Website | www.glenorchyparish.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category A listed building |
| Designated | 20 July 1971 |
| Architect(s) | James Elliot |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1811 |
Glenorchy Parish Church is a special church in the village of Dalmally, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. People also call it Glenorchy Kirk. Long ago, it was known as the Church of Dysart.
The church building is quite unique because it has eight sides! It was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s. This church is so important that it's protected as a "Category A listed building." This means it's a very special historic place. The church also has an old graveyard with interesting ancient gravestones.
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Where is Glenorchy Parish Church?
The church is built on a small island. This island is surrounded by the River Orchy. You can find it in Dalmally, a village in western Scotland. It's close to the A85 road and has its own train station, Dalmally railway station.
Right across from the church is a place called the Gallow Hill of Glenorchy. Local stories say that this hill was once used for executions. This happened when the Macgregors were in charge of the area. Near the church, there's also a holy well. It's known as the well of Saint Conan.
What is the Glenorchy Parish?
The Glenorchy parish is a large area. It stretches between Perthshire in the east. To the west, it reaches Lochawe and Loch Etive. This parish was created in 1618. That's when the areas of Glenorchy and Inishail joined together. The main valleys in this parish are Glenstrae, Glen Orchy, and Glen Lochay. You'll also find several lochs (lakes) here. These include Loch Tulla, Loch Lydon, and Loch Awe.
A Look Back: Church History
Records show that a church existed here as early as 1390. A mountain chief named Iain Macgregor was buried here. He was the second chief of Clan Gregor. More records from the 1400s and 1500s mention the church.
In 1586, the church was described as being on an island. This island was naturally formed by the water of the River Vrquhay (Orchy). In the early 1600s, a man named Sir Duncan Campbell paid to use the church.
The church building you see today was finished in 1811. It was designed by an architect named James Elliot from Edinburgh. Even though it was 15 miles away, it was the closest church for Duncan Ban MacIntyre. He was a famous Scottish Gaelic poet.
The Unique Church Building
The Glenorchy Parish Church has a very special design. It's built in the Gothic style. This means it has pointed arches and tall windows. The building has eight sides, which is unusual for a church. It also has a tall, square Gothic tower. The roof is shaped like a pyramid and is covered with slate. Some of the church's pointed windows were fixed up in 2008.
The Church Grounds
The land around the church is a historic graveyard. It was the burial place for the Macgregor family. You can also find very old grave slabs here. These slabs date back to the Middle Ages. They are decorated with pictures of armed warriors. Some people say these special gravestones were brought from Inishail.
