Find Spot record MHG42034 - Eilean Fhianain, St. Finnan's Chapel

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NM 7520 6827 (4m by 4m) (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

Thumbnail Photo showing stone crucifix and bell - J Kirby, 04/2004

See also:
NM76NE0047 Graveyard
J Aitken : 18/12/02
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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
------Centred NM 7520 6830 Burial-ground

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

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.
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1896; M E M Donaldson 1923; W J Watson 1926; S Gordon 1935.

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.

A contour survey of Eilean Fhianain was undertaken after the clearing of the thick scrub that has obscured the island in recent years. In consultation with Dorothy Low of Highland Regional Council a number of gravestones, crosses, the chapel and other monuments were mapped. Sponsor: Highland Regional Council
CFA 1992.
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REFERENCE
National Library, Country Life 26 December 1941 - photograph

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Centred 7520 6828

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

The island was the burying place of the Clan Ranalds until the end of the 16th century.
A circular brass brooch found in the burial ground was donated to the NMAS in 1896.
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1896; M E M Donaldson 1923; W J Watson 1926; S Gordon 1935.

Sources/Archives (143)

  • --- 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): 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): 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. .
  • --- 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): 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): 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): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 12. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 226.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Donaldson, M E M. 1923. Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands. 2nd, rev.. 30.
  • --- 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): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 11. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 219.
  • --- 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.
  • --- 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. .
  • --- 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): 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. .
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Gordon, S. 1935. Highways and Byways in the Western Highlands. 168-70.
  • --- 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. .
  • --- 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.
  • --- 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/Article: CFA. 1992. 'Eilean Fhianain, Loch Shiel (Arisaig and Moidart parish): ecclesiastical site', in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1992. SHG23035. 42.
  • --- 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. .

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Record last edited

Aug 31 2009 4:07PM

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