MHG3316 - St. Ninian's Chapel, Temple
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (3)
- CHAPEL (Early Medieval to 17th Century - 561 AD? to 1700 AD?)
- CEMETERY (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 561 AD? to 1900 AD?)
- HOLY WELL (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 561 AD? to 1900 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Supposed Site of (NAT) Knights Templars' Chapel (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 1st ed., (1871)
Supposed Site of (NAT) St Ninian's Chapel (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)
At St Ninian's site in Glenurquhart we have the ancient terms Cill an Trinnian (St Ninian's Church) and an Teampull- the latter word pointing to the existence of an early stone church, while to complete the evidence there is also a slab incised with a Celtic cross of primitive design.
W D Simpson 1935
The Chapel of St Ninian, who died c. 432, was also known as "An Teampull" - the Temple - a name denoting the existence of an early stone church. A crucifix of St Drostan was preserved in the chapel.
A Celtic cross-slab was removed from this site, first to Corrimony House (NH 376 303) and then to the modern St Ninian's Chapel at NH 4330. It measures 1'6" x 1'.
The chapel was in use at least until August 1556. The ruins existed in 1763, and, in 1835, there was still a public burial ground at "Cill Santninian".
Near the chapel were a rag well (possibly that shown at NH 529 300 on OS 1st edition 6"map) and two ash trees. The trees were still in existence in 1882, and were fully 12' in circumference. They also were superstitiously regarded. There is now no trace of the chapel.
W D Simpson 1935; W J Watson 1926; J Mackintosh 1888; ISSFC 1893; NSA 1845 (Rev J D Smith 1835); W MacKay 1893; Information from W Lorimer 1763; Name Book 1871.
No trace of the site, which was probably totally destroyed when the road was built. A monolith by the roadside is said to mark the site of finds made during road widening, and the well still exists a few yards to the east, also by the roadside.
A D S Macdonald and L R Laing 1973.
Sources/Archives (10)
- --- SHG187 Text/Publication/Article: MacKintosh, J. 1888. 'Antiquities of Glen Urquhart', Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club Vol. 2 1880-3, p.165-9. Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club. 165-9. 166-7.
- --- SHG2461 Text/Publication/Volume: Mackay, W. 1893. Urquhart and Glenmoriston: olden times in a Highland parish. 325-6, 385, 387, 435.
- --- SHG2534 Text/Publication/Volume: Morris and Morris, R and F. 1982. Scottish healing wells: healing, holy, wishing and fairy wells of the mainland of Scotland. 118.
- --- SHG2597 Text/Publication/Volume: NSA. 1845. The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy. Vol. 14, Inverness-shire, 46.
- --- SHG2798 Text/Publication/Volume: Simpson, W D. 1935. The Celtic church in Scotland: a study of its penetration lines and art relationships. 56.
- --- SHG2918 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. 338.
- --- SHG3126 Text/Publication/Article: Simpson, W D. 1951. Glen Urquhart and its castle: a study in environment. 316-31. 320-2.
- --- SHG3389 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 56, 85.
- --- SHG692 Text/Publication/Article: Macdonald and Laing, A D S and L R. 1973. 'Early ecclesiastical sites in Scotland: a field survey, part II', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 102 1969-70, p.129-45. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 129-45. 141-2.
- --- SHG765 Text/Publication/Article: ISSFC. 1893. 'Excursion to Glen Urquhart', Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club Vol. 3 1883-8, p.102-111. Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club. 102-111. 103.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 5302 3002 (220m by 200m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH53SW |
| Civil Parish | URQUHART AND GLENMORISTON |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/12639 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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