David Oakes - Images, Everyday Life, Heritage, Peace, postaday, Religious Buildings, Remembrance, Scotland, Trivia, West Highlands of Scotland

Sunday….. So Off to Church

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Dubhthachs Church, Morvich, Kintail, West Highlands.

I have shared this image before. Later this week it is Remembrance Day followed by Remembrance Sunday. So, with a little lateral thinking, I thought this was a peaceful little Church for this Sundays post.

Located at the foot of the Pass of Glen Shiel, in the Shadow of the Kintail Mountains and  sitting on a raised knoll above Loch Duich, it is indeed a peaceful and beautiful setting.  

The main part of the buildings above date to the 15th century, though I am told that there was a religious presence here as far back as the 10th century.

Even in its current ruined state is has a spiritual ambience of peace.  It has though not always been that way. 

During the Jacobite Rebellion of 1719, it was in the middle of much violent action.  Glen Shiel was the location for a famous battle between Government Troops and the Jacobite Army…. French Soldiers also reinforced the Jacobite’s.  As always, the church provided sanctuary and was soon serving as a hospital for the wounded Jacobite’s.  This action, once detected by the Government Ships on Loch Duich, resulted in the Church being heavily shelled.

Whist the damage was later repaired, Dubhthachs Church was abandoned and fell into disrepair, when a large Church was built elsewhere in the community, 

Such a peaceful location….  always hard to imagine those times of violence, loss of life and destruction that goes beyond the physical structures.

Just a thought in these also trouble times…. so, if you can…

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

6th November

(C) David Oakes 2022

5 thoughts on “Sunday….. So Off to Church”

    1. It is peaceful …. on one of my visits, I met an American lady sat on the grass, just looking in front of her, no real movement. I wandered around the graveyard and ruin for quite some time as on does taking pics ,etc.

      The Lady didn’t move and looked just a little, let’s say anxious. I asked her if she was OK., to which she replied, “Yes, I am fine, I just spotted this little church so thought I would stop for a quick look – as I walked up to it, I felt a strong spiritual presence. As I walked round it got stronger. I had to just sit and looked and let the feeling grow”.

      She looked at her watch, gasped and said, “I have been here for nearly 2 hours “. Her visit was on the spur of the moment, she was unaware of the church or indeed its history. She went onto state she was not religious, not a believer…. but she just felt this unexplainable feeling that made her want to pause, sit, and stare…. and she had no recall on what her thoughts had been.

      She stated that she has never ever felt moved by a place or building before, reflecting on the ‘lost time’ she felt rather shocked. We walked back to her Hire Car and discussed her onward journey to the Isle of Skye…. and the need to phone her Hotel to ensure they kept her room, as she would now be late arriving.

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