Image Details
The Church of Scotland in Gairloch has always reminded me of the churches of New England, although built on a smaller scale. It is in a fine setting sandwiched between the manicured golf course and the wild hills behind the church which rise to a height of 370 metres.
The present church building was built in 1791/92, but prior to that there had been earlier church buildings dating back to at least the middle of the 13th Century. Christianity first came to this area about A.D. 674, brought by St. Maelrubha, a disciple of St Columba of Iona.
St Maelrubha established a cell on Isle Maree in Loch Maree, a stunningly beautiful loch not far from Gairloch. The earliest written record of the church at Gairloch states that it became a common church of the Cathedral of Ross shortly after 1255/6 and this indicates that it must have been in existence prior to that date. This is more than 200 years before the granting of the charter of Gairloch to the first MacKenzie Laird in 1494.
The above information about this church, and much more about it's history, has been published in a booklet entitled 'Church of Scotland; Gairloch and Dundonnell; A Brief History of Gairloch Parish Church 1255-1992'. This was commissioned by the Church of Scotland Kirk Session and subsequently Sheriff Murdoch and Mrs Murdoch, members of this church, carried out meticulous and detailed research to compile the booklet. It may be possible to obtain a copy of this booklet from either the Church of Scotland in Gairloch or at the local Gairloch Heritage Museum.
North-west Highland Place Names
The landscape of the North-west Highlands and the Gaelic language are intimately connected. Other languages have contributed to the richness of our place names, notably Norse, but the North-west Highlands have for centuries been a Gaelic landscape. In listing the meanings of place names I have relied on authoritative sources wherever possible. For further information about sources please refer to North-west Highland Place Names in the main menu.
Dundonnell In Gaelic Acha dà Dòmhnaill means the 'Field of two Donalds'.
Gairloch; Gaelic, village named after the loch of the same name, Loch Gairloch, An Gearr-loch, the short loch.
Isle Maree; See Loch Maree.
Loch Maree; Gaelic Loch-Ma-rui(bh), Loch of St Maelrubha, an Irish monk who came to Scotland in 671A.D founding a church in Applecross before coming to Loch Maree where he founded another church on the island now known as Isle Maree. Professor Watson writes in his ‘Place names of Ross & Cromarty’ on page 230 “That Loch Maree was formerly called Loch Ewe is clear from the fact that the River Ewe issues from it, that Kinlochewe (meaning ‘Head of Loch Ewe’) stands at its upper end, and Letterewe on its north side”.
Images; Copyright © Gordon C Harrison All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Moral rights asserted in all countries and under any acts that may require such assertion.