This 1885 church closes the view north along Argyll Street with an asymmetrical Gothic front and corner steeple.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1885, on the site of an 1828 Parliamentary Church
- Architect / designer
- John Honeyman; HES also records Nell Gillies
- Type
- Gothic Revival parish church with south-west steeple
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB37516)
- OS grid reference
- NR 86281 88256
Architecture and continuing use
Coursed rubble, Early English detail and a slated roof form the main oblong church, with lean-to aisles and a south-west steeple. Inside, timber work and stained glass include early-twentieth-century sanctuary windows by Henry Holiday.
Its story
A Parliamentary Church was erected here in 1828. The present building replaced it in 1885 to a design associated with John Honeyman. In 2023 the former Lochgilphead congregation joined four neighbouring parishes to form Dalriada Mid Argyll Church, which retained this building for regular worship.
Why it is included
It is both a prominent townscape termination and a continuing centre of worship, linking two phases of nineteenth-century church provision with a recent parish union.
What to notice
- The steeple rising asymmetrically beside the gabled front.
- Lancet windows and the rhythm of the side aisles.
- The sanctuary stained glass when the church is lawfully open.
Reading the surroundings
Check the current worship rota before entering. Respect services and private church activities, and view exterior details from the pavement without blocking doors or traffic.
Timeline
- 1828 A Parliamentary Church opened on the site.
- 1885 The present Gothic Revival building replaced it.
- 1903–1904 Henry Holiday designed the sanctuary stained-glass scheme.
- 1 July 2023 The Lochgilphead congregation became part of Dalriada Mid Argyll Church.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
HES names Nell Gillies in its short description and John Honeyman as architect; the current church account attributes the design to Honeyman. The record preserves that difference rather than assigning a single unsupported role.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Lochgilphead Church, LB37516 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and significance.
- Dalriada Mid Argyll Church: Lochgilphead Church — Current congregational use, architectural summary and the retained church building.
- Dalriada Mid Argyll Church: Our Parish — Official account of the 2023 parish union and current worship network.
- Trove search: Lochgilphead Parish Church — National collection search for site records, surveys and archive material.
Location
OS grid reference NR 86281 88256 · Location confidence: High for the current national designation point; public text separately states access, component-identity and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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