Kilarrow Parish Church facts for kids
Kilarrow Church (also known as Eaglais Cill an Rubha in Scottish Gaelic) is a special church located in Bowmore, a town on the island of Islay in Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland, which is the national church of Scotland. This church is famous for its very unusual shape.
A Unique Round Design
Kilarrow Church is often called the "Round Church" because it was built in a circular shape. This unique design was created in 1767. It's quite rare to see a church built this way! Some people even say that the circular design was chosen so there would be no corners for the devil to hide in. Inside, the roof is held up by one very large pillar in the middle. This design was so interesting that other churches built in the 1960s copied its circular style.
The Tartan Pimpernel
The church also holds special items that belonged to a man named Reverend Donald Caskie. He was born in Bowmore in 1902. Reverend Caskie was a minister at The Scots Kirk in Paris, France. During World War II, he became known as the "Tartan Pimpernel". This nickname was given to him because he bravely helped more than 2,000 Allied soldiers and airmen escape from France when it was occupied by enemy forces. He was a true hero! Reverend Caskie passed away in 1983.
Church Life Today
Kilarrow Church is currently linked with another nearby church, Kilmeny. At the moment, there are no permanent ministers serving these two churches. This is because ministers have been assigned to other areas.
