Keills Chapel facts for kids
Keills Chapel is a very old and special building. It is located in the beautiful west Highlands of Scotland. You can find it close to a village called Tayvallich in Knapdale.
This chapel was built around the 11th century, which means it's over 900 years old! It is looked after by Historic Scotland. Another chapel, Kilmory Knap Chapel, is also cared for by them. Keills Chapel is usually open for visitors, and there is no charge to enter.
Discovering Keills Chapel
The name "Keills" comes from an old word, keeill, which means chapel. Inside this re-roofed building, you can see a really important collection of old stone carvings. These include six early Christian cross-slabs. There are also about forty grave slabs from the late medieval period. These were found either in the chapel or its churchyard.
One very special item is a Celtic cross. This cross used to stand outside the chapel. Now, a plain modern cross stands in its place. The original Celtic cross was moved inside the chapel. This was done to protect it from bad weather, so it can be preserved for many more years.
The Amazing Keills Cross
The Keills Cross is a complete and very well-preserved cross. It was carved a long, long time ago, between the late 700s and early 800s. It is made from a local grey-green stone called epidiorite. Only one side of the cross has carvings. The other sides and the back are smooth, without any decoration.
This cross has an interesting shape. Its side-arms are quite short but wider than the main shaft and the top part. The top part of the cross shows the archangel St. Michael. He is standing over a serpent. This carving is a symbol of winning against evil.
The lower part of the cross shows Christ on the Judgement Seat. He is holding a book in his left hand. This book might be the Bible or the New Testament, and it represents mercy. In his right hand, he holds a flail, which is a symbol of judgement.
At the center of the cross, where the arms meet, there is a circular design. In the middle of this circle are three round objects. These might represent the Holy Trinity. Around this central design, you can see four animals. These animals represent the four evangelists, who wrote parts of the Bible.
Images for kids
-
A view from the graveyard
-
Inside Keills Chapel
-
Keills Chapel Cross
-
Grave slabs in Keills Chapel
