
St Modan's Parish Church, Rosneath
Denomination: Church of Scotland
Address: Rosneath Road , Rosneath , G84 0RQ
Local Authority: Argyll & Bute
Listing: A
Church Overview
The word Rosneath is derived from the Gaelic “Rosneveth” which means “headland of the sanctuary, indicating that there has been a Christian church in this spot since very early times. There is a ruined church in the ancient graveyard, across the road from the current church, that contains possible architectural fragments of three buildings.
The earliest, a simple medieval church, appears to have been built around the 12th century and either demolished or incorporated into the second church which was built in cruciform plan, in the 16th century. Around 1610, this building was further ornamented with the addition of a beautiful belfry to accommodate a newly commissioned Burgerhuis Bell (now kept on display in the current church). Apparently deemed too elaborate for the needs of its rural congregation, this second church building was partially demolished in 1780, retaining only the gable holding the belfry. It was then rebuilt in a simpler rectangular plan, that caused the then Duke of Argyll to refer to it simply as “the barn”. This building remained in use until the mid-19th century when it was replaced by the current church. Today it is surrounded by the historic graveyard and the remains of a crypt, from the second or third church, in which some members of the Campbell of Argyll family were interred.
The current church was erected in 1853, to an English Gothic design, by well-known church architect David Cousin. According to the Kirk Session minutes, the congregation believed it to be one of the first Presbyterian churches since the Reformation to reintroduce stained glass windows and wood carving into its design. As the congregation grew, a southern transept was added in 1862, then a northern transept in 1873, the chancel was extended in 1921 and the vestry was added in 1929. It was named after St Modan in 1953, the year of the building’s centenary. The 6th century Celtic saint was connected to the area by a holy well a few hundred yards from the church and local folklore suggested he may have been buried in the old graveyard opposite. This story undoubtedly grew in strength following the discovery, in 1880, of an elaborately carved early-medieval cross slab buried in the old kirkyard. Thought by many to have marked the grave of the Celtic saint, “St Modan’s Stone” was brought inside the current church in 1930 for safekeeping and can still be seen there today.
Inside the church, visitors can also see the fine carved oak pulpit, dated 1624, which was presumably saved from the older buildings and bears the motto of the Campbell family and monograms of Archibald Victor Campbell, Marquis of Argyll and his wife Margaret Douglas. There is a superbly carved and brightly coloured Communion Table, gifted to the church in 1896, and behind this a painted wooden Reredos, designed in 1931 by Morris Meredith Williams, showing the Last Supper. Attractive stained glass windows can be seen throughout the building, by the artists Douglas Strachan, Stephen Adam, Crear McCartney, A Maitland, Gordon Webster and Clayton & Bell. There is also a striking memorial to the Rev Dr Story, a former minister, by sculptor William Brodie and a richly illuminated Panel by W Muirhead RSA, listing the Ten Commandments. Beside the minister’s prayer desk is “The Beast” – a carved lion thought to have been one of the stones upon which the early medieval church’s altar once rested. The well maintained tracker action pipe organ is by Hill of London and was made in 1873. In 2022, the instrument was surveyed by the group Sowne of Organe as part of their ongoing mission to comprehensively survey the most important historic organs in Scotland.
Significant restoration work in the church was carried out in the early part of this century and the building today is cared for by the local congregation and the Society Friends of St Modan.
Services
Sunday 9:45 am and 11.45 am depending on year. 2 years at a time alternating with the other 2 linked churches – Craigrownie Church and Garelochhead Church
Opening Arrangements
Open by arrangement with keyholder
(in hall)
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.