Church Overview

Looking out over Applecross Bay to Raasay and standing on the ancient site of St Maelrubha’s 7th century monastery, this simple, partially harled church was built 1816-18. Long disused, its interior plaster was stripped out some years ago to reveal its bare walls. Its original, early 19th century canopied pulpit survives, with its fluted pilasters and a seat below for the precentor, who led the congregation in song.

In 2012, Clachan Church underwent extensive renovations through the Applecross Landscape Partnership Scheme (ALPS) programme, conserving the building’s unique character and atmosphere for another generation. The church is now owned by a the Applecross Trust, a charitable trust set up to protect and improve the amenities of the Applecross Estate for the public benefit. This beautiful historic kirk is available to hire for weddings, memorial services, concerts, exhibitions and other events.

The historic kirkyard outside has been been surveyed as part of the Clachan Graveyard mapping project, which was conceived by the Applecross Historical Society and carried out by volunteers under the auspices of ALPS. Remote researchers can now access information about the graveyard and the people buried there via an interactive, searchable map and database. To the left of the church gate stands a tall, plain slab with an incised Celtic cross, said to mark the grave of Ruairidh Mor MacAogan, abbot of Applecross who died in 801. The remains of carved Celtic crosses, dating from the 8th century, are conserved within glass cases in the Applecross Heritage Centre just opposite the church.

In 2000, Scotland’s Churches Scheme, one of our two parent charities, organised a pilgrim walk to the church, concluding with an ecumenical service, communion and a feast of the sort of food and drink that would have been eaten by early medieval pilgrims in the 7th and 8th century. Visitors to the old kirk that day and every other are struck by its innate sense of peace and tranquillity, a fitting legacy in stone of the correct Gaelic name for the Applecross peninsula of ‘A’Chomraich’ –  meaning ‘the Sanctuary’.

Services

No Sunday service – can be hired for weddings, memorial services, concerts and other events.

Opening Arrangements

By arrangement

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.