Church Overview

Dedicated to St. Donnán of Eigg, a contemporary of St Columba that legend asserts was martyred on the 17 April 617, this unassuming little church, hidden in the trees outside the village, was designed and built of local stone and concrete blocks from 1962-64 by architect Frederic ‘Eric’ Robert Stevenson.

A partner in the Edinburgh firm of Stevenson and Dunsworth, the architect actually built the church with his own hands on a shoestring budget, enlisting the help of his family and friends who camped on site during its construction. It was dedicated on 18th April 1964 by the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

The simple interior is whitewashed, with pine chairs to seat 45 worshippers that can be moved easily to make the sanctuary space more flexible and available for coffee mornings and other events. The east wall is patterned with panels that are inset with pebbles, taken from the nearby Nostie Burn, portraying primitive biblical figures gathered around a central altar cross.

The altar is constructed of single stone slab, held aloft on pedestals containing winged angels on either side that Stevenson himself also carved. He also carved the font, using the one in Iona Abbey as his inspiration. Stevenson’s only other church, St Hilda’s Episcopal Church in Oxgangs in Edinburgh, was demolished in 2008.

Services

First and third Sunday of each month at 10.30am

Opening Arrangements

Open 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.