Canna, Church Of Scotland
Burial Ground (20th Century) (1912), Church (20th Century) (1912)-(1914)
Site Name Canna, Church Of Scotland
Classification Burial Ground (20th Century) (1912), Church (20th Century) (1912)-(1914)
Alternative Name(s) Canna, Presbyterian Church; Memorial Church; Isle Of Canna, Church Of Scotland; Canna Harbour
Canmore ID 76044
Site Number NG20NE 23
NGR NG 27663 05380
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/76044
- Council Highland
- Parish Small Isles
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Lochaber
- Former County Inverness-shire
Church of Scotland, Peter MacGregor Chalmers, 1914 Simple rubble church distinguished by its round tapering Irish tower, a landmark for the visiting fishermen for whom the church was intended. It was built as a memorial to Robert Thom. Ornate wrought-iron gate to walled burial ground added 1969.
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NG20NE 23 27693 05380
For discovery of Viking bronze pin, see NG20NE 12.
Church of Scotland, by P MacGregor Chalmers, 1912-14. Beautifully simple lancet-windowed rubble rectangle. Pencil-like W tower of Brechin Cathedral tower type. Inside, a pointed tunnel-vault.
J Gifford 1992.
This small rectangular church was built as a memorial to Robert Thom by his son Allan G Thom between the years 1912 and 1914 and was designed by P MacGregor Chalmers; it lies above the track leading to the pier and overlooks Canna Harbour. The church is oriented from ENE to WSW and is built of random rubble with pinnings; its roof is of stone, rendered externally, but visible internally as a pointed tunnel-vault. It is entered by a door at the SW end of the S wall, and has narrow pointed leaded windows, three in each side and two in either gable end. A round tower lies central to the W gable end, and is vented by similar pointed openings with slate louvres.
The church lies within a stone-walled burial-ground, which contains only one granite headstone, dedicated to Allan Gilmour Thom and his wife Mary Cameron.
A fine ornamental wrought-iron gate in the W wall provides access to the burial-ground. It has a central oval panel containing the outline of a cross, which, below its arms, is flanked by two smaller infilled panels, one with three birds, the other with three fishes. The gate was presented by Wallace Menzies and was dedicated at a service held in August 1969.
Visited by RCAHMS (ARG), 13 August 1996
J L Campbell 1984.
Architect: Dr. Peter McGregor Chalmers 1912-1914
