Bute, East St Colmac Chapel

Nothing now remains of the chapel and associated burial ground at East Colmac. Its remains were used for building about the end of the 18th century. More correctly called Kilmachalmaig, it was dedicated to St Colman of Ulster (W J Watson 1926), St Colmog (H Scott 1923), and the building was used after the Reformation, being mentioned in 1591.

J K Hewison 1893

Nothing now remains of the chapel and associated burial ground at East Colmac. Its remains were used for building about the end of the 18th century. More correctly called Kilmachalmaig, it was dedicated to St Colman of Ulster (W J Watson 1926), St Colmog (H Scott 1923), and the building was used after the Reformation, being mentioned in 1591.

J K Hewison 1893

The chapel which once stood beside the cross was dedicated to St Colman or Colmac who was Bishop of Dromore and, like many of the early preachers, was educated in Ireland. He lived in the 6th century. Divine worship was continued on the site till long after the Reformation. In 1591 we hear of Patrick McQueine, pastor of Kingarth, having Killumcogarmick added to his charge. No traces of the chapel are to be seen: about 160 years ago the farmer took the remaining stones to build his steading. Nothing of the cemetery remains either, though something of it could be seen up to the end of the 18th century.

D N Marshall 1955

The published site falls in an area of cultivated land and there is no trace of the chapel or burial ground.

Visited by OS (TRG) 24 November 1976

Nothing is visible of this chapel and its burial-ground, the position of which, according to an early 19th century estate plan of Kames (RHP14262), lies under modern farm buildings and a silage pit. Although the estate plan depicts the ruins of the chapel, Wilson's Guide (1855, 70-1) notes that by the time five coffins were dug up here about 1820 the building had been 'entirely removed'. The site of the chapel is shown on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Argyllshire and Buteshire 1869, Sheet CXCIII) and the contemporary Name Book (No.5, p.18) noted the recent discovery of numerous stone coffins.

Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, PJD) 22 April 2009.

NS 03660 62646, NS 04539 67269 and NS 10004 56658 On the 24 July 2011 a gradiometry survey were undertaken at the four sites of Kilchousland, Kilchatten, East St Colmac Chapel and St Colmac. This work represents the start of the Christian Sites of the Atlantic Rim research project (CSAR).

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants

Funder: Rose Geophysical Consultants, British Academy and Discover Bute Landscape Partnership

Rose Geophysical Consultants 2011

NS 03660 62646, NS 04539 67269 and NS 10004 56658 On the 24 July 2011 a resistivity survey were undertaken at the four sites of Kilchousland, Kilchatten, East St Colmac Chapel and St Colmac. This work represents the start of the Christian Sites of the Atlantic Rim research project (CSAR).

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants

Funder: Rose Geophysical Consultants, British Academy and Discover Bute Landscape Partnership

Rose Geophysical Consultants 2011

NS 03660 62646, NS 04539 67269 and NS 10004 56658 On the 24 July 2011 gradiometry and resistance surveys were undertaken at the four sites of Kilchousland, Kilchatten, East St Colmac Chapel and St Colmac. This work represents the start of the Christian Sites of the Atlantic Rim research project (CSAR) which, aided by a small grant from the British Academy, aims to answer the question ‘can geophysics alone identify and date chapel sites?’ The project has initially chosen to concentrate on the ‘Celtic’ church and has begun by focusing on the Isle of Bute, as it represents a discrete geographic area and appears to have an abundance of ‘lost’ chapel sites.

The gradiometry survey was employed to identify and discount sites with a ‘domestic’ signature, on the assumption that these sites were either farmsteads or more complex monastery sites. The resistance survey aimed to determine the form and layout of sites, which it is hoped would be indicative of their age. Of the four sites surveyed the results suggest one ‘no show’, one ‘surprising turn up’, one ‘interesting results; possible need for further work’ and one ‘raises more questions than it answers’. However, it is hoped that the surveys have added to Bute's archaeological record. Certainly one completely new site has been located (St Colmac); East St Colmac would bear further investigation with the potential for cists and/or burials and a tentative chapel, and Kilchatten has been confirmed as a large prehistoric monument. In terms of the CSAR Project it could be argued that two sites provide data that confirm the efficacy of the techniques and provide dates, though of a broad spread.

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants

Funder: Rose Geophysical Consultants, British Academy and Discover Bute Landscape Partnership

Rose Geophysical Consultants 2011