Church Overview

Situated in a prominent position facing Loch Leodamais, in the coastal village of Port Ellen, the rubble stone and distinctive broached spire of this little kirk offers a bold contrast to its neighbouring white-harled rows of houses and cottages.

Rectangular in plan and single-storeyed, this Arts & Crafts church was designed and built by the Scottish architect Sydney Mitchell from 1897-98. It possesses a fine carved oak font, lectern and communion table, with gothic panels, and some other interesting furniture in the vestibule.

Its lancet windows, with foliated tracery, contain three stained glass windows – “Christ the Good Shepherd”, from the workshop of G Maile & Son of London, was installed in 1940, but the other two, depicting fishing and harvest scenes and memorialising Cpt Iain Ramsay of Kildalton are evidently relocated from elsewhere (possibly the now closed church at Ardbeg) and are by an unknown artist. Their style is very reminiscent of the studio of Margaret Chilton and Marjorie Kemp.

St John’s is linked with St Kiaran’s, near Port Charlotte, Kilmeny, near Ballygrant, Kilarrow (The Round Church), in Bowmore, Portnahaven Parish Church and Jura Parish Church into a single Islay and Jura Churches Parish. Portnahaven and Kilmeny are earmarked for closure in the near future.

Services

Sundays at 11.30am

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.