Church Overview

Portnahaven Parish Church is one of 32 “Parliamentary Kirks” constructed between 1824 and 1830 under the supervision of engineer Thomas Telford and to standardised design by surveyor William Thompson.

The building is T-plan in shape with north, east and west galleries. Its symmetrical south front has two tall four-centred arched windows and two doorways, with the original box pews flanking either side of the central pulpit. Stencilling can be seen in places beneath layers of peeling paint, which may be part of original colour scheme.

Local lore has it that one door is used by Portnahaven residents exclusively, the other door by residents of the nearby village of Port Wemyss. Another Parliamentary kirk was built at the Oa (now ruinous) and a Parliamentary manse was built for Kilmeny Parish Church, which was reordered internally at the same time along the same lines as the other two churches.

In recent years Portnahaven was linked with other Church of Scotland congregations on Islay and Jura – St Kiaran’s, near Port Charlotte, St John’s, in Port Ellen, Kilarrow (The Round Church), in Bowmore, Kilmeny Parish Church, near Ballygrant, and Jura Parish Church, into a single Islay and Jura Churches Parish. During a period of rationalisation of church buildings by the denomination, Portnahaven and Kilmeny were earmarked for closure.

In January 2026, after many months of negotiations, planning and fundraising the Friends of Portnahaven Church purchased this little historic kirk from the Church of Scotland to develop it as a cultural hub for the local community. 

Services

Occasional

Opening Arrangements

Open daily

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.