Church Overview

Kilmeny is an ancient Islay parish, its most recent parish church is situated about 400m north east of its medieval predecessor standing within the old graveyard. There is evidence of a number of early Celtic Church foundations within the parish boundary, and nearby is Finlaggan, the administrative centre of the historic Lords of the Isles.

The church was rebuilt in 1828-29 while the government was constructing two “Telford Kirks” on Islay at Risabus, on the Oa, and at Portnahaven and a new manse at Kilmeny, which is now a private home. The work on the church was paid for by heritor Walter F Campbell and much of the surviving interior woodwork is similar to that still located at Portnahaven. The church also possesses a fine bronze World War One memorial by Scottish sculptor James Gray, depicting a dying soldier being comforted by an angel who points to a rising sun, above a list of the local fallen. 

Caol Ila Distillery Company presented an electric organ to the church during their 125th anniversary in 1996 and the interior was upgraded in the early 20th century, providing comfortable seating both on pews and padded chairs, wheelchair access and an accessible toilet and refurbished kitchen to the rear.

Latterly Kilmeny was linked with St Kiaran’s, near Port Charlotte, St John’s, in Port Ellen, Kilarrow (The Round Church), in Bowmore, Portnahaven Parish Church and Jura Parish Church into a single Islay and Jura Churches Parish.

During a period of nationwide rationalisation of their property holdings, the Church of Scotland sold Kilmeny Church in 2025 to the Greater Kilmeny Community Group, who intend to develop the building as a multi-purpose hub for the use of local residents.

Services

Occasional

Opening Arrangements

Open by arragement

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.