Keills Chapel facts for kids
Keills Chapel is a small, old chapel in the west Highlands of Scotland. It's close to the village of Tayvallich in Knapdale.
This chapel was built way back in the 11th century, which means it's over 900 years old! Historic Scotland looks after it, just like they do for Kilmory Knap Chapel across Loch Sween. You can visit Keills Chapel during the day, and it doesn't cost anything to get in.
Discovering Keills Chapel
The name "Keills" comes from an old word, keeill, which means chapel. Inside this re-roofed building, you'll find an amazing collection of old stone carvings. These include six early Christian cross-slabs and about forty grave slabs from the Middle Ages. These were found either in the chapel or its churchyard.
One special item is a Celtic cross. It used to stand outside the chapel, but now a plain, modern cross is there instead. The original Celtic cross was moved inside to keep it safe from the weather and help it last longer.
The Famous Keills Cross
The Keills Cross is a very old and well-kept cross from the late 700s or early 800s. It's made from a local grey-green stone called epidiorite. Only one side of the cross is decorated; the other sides are smooth.
This cross has a unique shape, with short side-arms that are wider than the top and bottom parts. Here's what you can see carved on it:
- The top part shows the archangel St. Michael. He is standing over a snake, which represents winning against evil.
- The bottom part shows Christ on the Judgement Seat. He holds a book, possibly the Bible, in his left hand, which stands for mercy. In his right hand, he holds a flail, which represents judgement.
- In the middle, where the arms cross, there's a round design with three circles. These might represent the Holy Trinity.
- Around this central design, you can see four animals. These animals represent the four evangelists, who wrote the Gospels in the Bible.
Images for kids
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A view from the graveyard
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Inside Keills Chapel
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Keills Chapel Cross
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Grave slabs in Keills Chapel
