Church Overview

Built as a labour of love by architect, author and antiquarian Walter Douglas Campbell of Innis Chonain. The nave and choir were built 1881-86 and the church was extended and embellished from 1907-30. An astonishing building, rich in beautiful detail, mostly in Romanesque style, although Walter Campbell ‘did not allow himself to be trammelled by orthodoxy’. A show-piece in Argyll which attracts thousands of visitors a year. Overlooking Loch Awe in a place of great natural beauty. Popular for weddings.

Built of local stone, the 1881-86 cruciform church, of chancel, nave and transepts, was originally intended as a chapel of ease to be associated with the Church of Scotland. To this building were added from 1907-1930 a cloister, apse, ambulatory, library, south aisle and chapels dedicated to St Bride, St Conval and King Robert the Bruce. Walter Campbell died in 1914 and the work continued under his sister Helen Douglas Campbell. Sadly, she died in 1927, before work was complete. St Conan’s was consecrated in 1930.

The eclectic building contains numerous styles and influences, including Pagan, Celtic, Celtic revival, Norman, Romanesque, Saxon and Gothic. There are several fine stained glass windows, by artists including Princess Louise and Louis Davies. There is a bust of Queen Victoria by Princess Louise, as well as carved effigies of St Conan, Walter Campbell and Robert the Bruce. The fine ornamental ironwork gates on the St Bride’s and St Conval’s Chapels were created by craftsman Thomas Hadden. The exquisite Robert the Bruce effigy in alabaster and wood was the work of Hubert Paton. 13th century window openings have been utilised in the cloister and a 15th century window in the Bruce Chapel, thought to be fragments from Iona Abbey. There are several fine clan stalls, each with armorial shields, and a beautiful organ screen created by Walter Campbell himself. 

Following Helen Campbell’s death, the Kirk was donated to the St Conan’s Church Trust, since 2014 the owners have worked in partnership with a newly formed Friends of St Conan’s Kirk organisation to manage and run the building. In 2016, in a public poll St Conan’s was voted one of the top ten buildings in Scotland to have been built in the previous century. Entrance is by donation, which goes towards the restoration and costly upkeep of the Kirk (suggested amount £3 per person). Its tearoom shuts over winter (check St Conan’s own website for opening details). 

Services

Church of Scotland worship: 11.00am on 1st Sunday of the month

Opening Arrangements

Summer (April to September) 8am – 6pm, Winter (October to March) 9am – 5pm

    no toilets

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.