A compact gabled church combines plain island construction with a traceried window and belfry, and remains part of Tarbert's worship life.
Quick facts
- Date
- Mid-19th century in appearance
- Architect / designer
- Unknown
- Type
- Gothic box church with gable entrance and belfry
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB12866)
- OS grid reference
- NG 15877 99960
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The rectangular church has two-bay flanks lit by small-paned paired windows. A Gothic opening with intersecting tracery rises above the gable entrance, while a small apex belfry gives the simple dry-dashed building a clear public silhouette.
Its story
Its fabric is mid-nineteenth-century in character, although the precise building date and original denominational sequence are not recorded in the designation. The North Harris Free Presbyterian congregation now identifies Tarbert as one of its meeting places.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a restrained but distinctive island church in which Gothic details articulate an otherwise economical meeting-house form.
What to notice
- Intersecting tracery in the entrance-gable window.
- The small belfry placed directly on the gable apex.
- Paired flat-lintelled windows along the side walls.
Reading the surroundings
Attend only at published services or by arrangement. Respect worship, avoid photographing people without consent and do not assume the building is open between services.
Timeline
- Mid-19th century A modest Gothic church was raised above Loch Tarbert.
- Present day The North Harris congregation continues to advertise worship in Tarbert.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The survey describes the date by appearance rather than documentary proof, and the building's full denominational history was not established in the reviewed sources.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Tarbert Free Presbyterian Church, LB12866 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland: North Harris congregation — Current Tarbert meeting place, congregation and published service information.
Location
OS grid reference NG 15877 99960 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · 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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