Skye, Kilchrist Church, Churchyard
Armorial Panel (Medieval), Burial Ground (Medieval), Cross (Medieval), Cross Slab (Early Medieval), Grave Slab (Medieval)
Site Name Skye, Kilchrist Church, Churchyard
Classification Armorial Panel (Medieval), Burial Ground (Medieval), Cross (Medieval), Cross Slab (Early Medieval), Grave Slab (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Strath Suardal, Cill Chriosd
Canmore ID 100568
Site Number NG62SW 3.01
NGR NG 61720 20723
NGR Description Centred NG 61720 20723
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/100568
- Council Highland
- Parish Strath
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
Cill Chriosd (Kilchrist), late 16th/early 17th century, replacing a medieval structure. Long, low, rubble ruin of the post-Reformation parish church of Strath with roughly dressed quoins and jambs; balustraded burial enclosure added to the east gable in the early 18th century for the Mackinnons. In the south corner of the graveyard, a worn medieval slab carved with an ornate cross; headstones mostly 18th and 19th century.
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NG62SW 3.01 centred 61720 20723
About 1840 a new church was built at Broadford (OPS 1854). Lying in the churchyard is an armorial stone.
Another fragment in the churchyard, crude in execution, appears to be the necking and lower arms of a cross. The lower portion is carved with two animals in relief. The reverse is plain.
There is also a recumbent slab of slate containing a foliated cross. The dexter side of the cross is well preserved, but the greater part of the other side has been entirely worn away (RCAHMS 1928).
RCAHMS 1928; Orig Paroch Scot 1854; Reg Sec Sig Reg Scot 1908.
Cill Chriosd: as described by RCAHMS and ruinous. The armorial stones, etc. were not seen.
Visited by OS (AC), 17 April 1961.
Field Visit (23 June 1921)
Cill Chriosd, Strath Suardal.
Kilchrist Church stands on the western side of the Broadford-Torran road and nearly 300 yards east of Loch Cill Chriosd. Measuring 52 feet 9 inches by 17 feet 6 inches internally, it forms a rectangle,. the main axis varying 30 degrees from due east and west. There are no openings in the north and west walls. The side walls, 8 feet high, are 2 feet 3 inches and the gables 2 feet 10 inches in thickness. The church is entered by a doorway 3 feet 3 inches wide with splayed jambs and check and square sconsions in the south wall, in which are three windows, each 2 feet 4 inches wide, with check and inward splay. A similar window, 3 feet wide and now built up, is in the east gable. The church probably dates from the late 16th or early 17th century. (Fig. 18.)
HISTORICAL NOTE. There was in 1505 a presentation of Kenneth (‘Kenzoch’) Adamson, chaplain to the rectory and vicarage of ‘Kilchrist in Askimilruby . . . in Strasuordale’, vacant by the death of the last possessor, ‘John MacGillebredison’. In 1508 John Ranaldson was presented to ‘the rectory of the parish church of Strath called Cristis Kirk, vacant by the death of the late rector John Johneson’ (1).
STONE IN CHURCHYARD. Lying in the churchyard is an armorial stone in two pieces, measuring 1 foot 4 inches in width and 1 foot 9½ inches in height, with a semicircular head, and bearing on the bottom part, which is 10¾ inches high, a rude repre-1. wife?), viz., parted per pale, dexter, a three-towered castle; sinister, a lion (bull) upwards (passant). The upper part contains the initials N. McL., and the whole is within a carved border. There are seven small holes in the upper part, indicating that something had been attached to it.
FRAGMENT OF CROSS - SHAFT. Another fragment in the churchyard, crude in execution, appears to be the necking and lower arm of a cross. At its widest it measures 1 foot 1 inch and is contracted to 8½ inches at top and is 1 foot 7 inches high. The lower portion is carved with two animals in relief, sitting upright face to face with hind and fore legs touching and heads raised; the upper part is the raised lower arm of a cross(?) with two circular cavities incised. The reverse is plain.
SLAB WITH CROSS. In the kirkyard is a recumbent slab of slate 5 feet 11½ inches long and 1 foot 9½ inches broad, with a panel at the top of the slab, 1 foot 7½ inches long by1 foot 6½ inches broad, containing a foliated cross of eight rays which spring from a circle in the centre 4½ inches in diameter. The inner ends of the rays and the foliaceous design are interlaced. A double bead is cut right round the edge of the stone. The dexter side of the cross is well preserved, but the greater part of the other side has been entirely worn away.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 23 June 1921.
OS map: Skye xlvi.
(1) Reg. Sec. Sig., I., Nos. 1115, 1719
