Monument record MHG4159 - St. Finnan's Chapel - Eilean Fhianain

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NM 7520 6827 (24m by 12m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NM76NE
Civil Parish ARISAIG AND MOIDART
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Geographical Area LOCHABER

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Little is known of the early history of the chapel of Eilean Fhianain. It is perhaps built on the site of a cell which St. Finan had upon the island in the 7th century and the builder is believed to have been Alan MacRuaridh, one of the early Clan Ranald chiefs. The island was the burying place of the Clan Ranalds until the end of the 16th century. The chapel became a ruin by the mid-17th century. The altar, however, remains, and on it stands a 6" high D.A. bell. A circular brass brooch found in the burial ground was donated to the NMAS in 1896. <1> <2> <3> <4>

(NM 7520 6827) St. Finnan's Church (NR) (Remains of) Burying Ground (NAT)
OS 6" map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1901)

National Library, Country Life 26 December 1941 - photograph

St. Finan's Chapel (locally accepted name) is oriented E-W and measures 21.0m by 5.6m within a wall which is 0.9m thick and c. 2.8m maximum height. In the N wall are the lower halves of four windows, and near the E end is a square-headed aumbry. In the W wall is the lower part of a window and in the S wall the lower part of three windows, and towards its W end a doorway. The altar and bell remain intact at the E end. The interior has been used for burials.
Visited by OS (R L) 3 June 1970.

The chapel and the surrounding buruial ground were listed at Category A in 1971.

A contour survey of most of the island was undertaken in 1992 by CFA after the clearing of the thick scrub that has obscured the island in recent years. A number of gravestones, crosses, the chapel and other monuments were mapped. <5>

The remains of the chapel and stone crosses were scheduled in 1995.

It has been observed that lichen has been removed from the stone crucifix in the chapel, leaving it open to further deterioration.
Information supplied by J Kirby, 03/06/04

Chapel, c.1500 Believed to have been built to replace a wooden structure by Allan MacRuari, 4th Chief of Clanranald, "the dread and terror of all neighbouring clans". Abandoned 17th century, since when all dressings have been robbed. The rubble walls still enclose a stone altar slab, with a seamless bronze bell of Early Christian type (possibly 10th century), a small cross in a niche, plus various important graveslabs, including one much weathered example of the Iona School, c. late 15th century, depicting a sword and foliage scrolls. Among the many monuments scattering Eilean Fhianain in the shelter of hawthorn, larch and Scots pine are several late medieval graveslabs and a group of weathered cruciform stones, probably 18th century. <6>

The chapel and stone crosses were removed from the listing in August 2015 by Historic Scotland as part of a project looking at dual designations of sites in the Highlands, though they remain a scheduled monument. The statutory address was formerly 'Eilean Fhianain, St Finnan's Chapel and Burial Ground'. <7>

For burial ground see MHG31447

Sources/Archives (145)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Bourke, C. 1984. 'The hand-bells of the early Scottish church', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 113 1983, p.464-8. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 464-8. 467.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): St. Finnan's Isle, general view from W.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave marker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance worker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan :. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Chapel, St. Finnan's Isle.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave marker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 12. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 226.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 11. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 219.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): St. Finnan's Isle : Recent burial.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave marker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Chapel and altar, St. Finnan's Isle.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave marker (incised).. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, structure.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, chapel after clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): St. Finnan's Isle, landing jetty.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub cleared.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, Lair.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave marker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Chapel and burial ground, Eilean Fhiannain.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, cleared area.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, information board.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): St. Finnan's Isle, Loch Shiel, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Chapel : St. Finnan's Isle.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 7. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 126,132.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Forbes, A P. 1872. Kalendars of Scottish saints, with personal notices of those of Alba, Laudonia and Strathclyde. 310-11.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Cross, St. Finnan's Isle.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, grave markers (incised).. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, general view.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance worker.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan : Scrub Clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Eilean Fhiannan, scrub clearance.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • <1> Text/Publication/Article: PSAS. 1896. 'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and Library, with exhibits', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 30 1895-6, p.5-9,38-40,200-5,247-53,308-16. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 5-9,38-40,200-5,247-53,30. 39.
  • <2> Text/Publication/Volume: Donaldson, M E M. 1923. Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands. 2nd, rev.. 30.
  • <3> Text/Publication/Volume: Watson, W J. 1926. The history of the Celtic place-names of Scotland: being the Rhind lectures on archaeology (expanded) delivered in 1916. 285-6.
  • <4> Text/Publication/Volume: Gordon, S. 1935. Highways and Byways in the Western Highlands. 168-70.
  • <5> Text/Publication/Article: CFA. 1992. 'Eilean Fhianain, Loch Shiel (Arisaig and Moidart parish): ecclesiastical site', in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1992. SHG23035. 42.
  • <6> Text/Publication/Volume: Miers, M.. 2008. The Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Paperback.
  • <7> Text/Designation Notification/List of Buildings: Jackson, L.. 2015. Combined Statutory and Descriptive List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Highland Council, Two Hundred and First Amendment) 2015. Historic Scotland. 04/09/2015. Digital.

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Record last edited

Oct 24 2016 4:05PM

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