Cilleasbuig Earaild, Killespick-Kyril
Muckairn is a parish in the district of Lorn, Argyleshire. It is bounded by Loch Etive, and by the parishes of Lismore, Inishail, and Kilchrenan. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson)
Achlevan, Airdney, Airds, Balindore, Bunawe, Calnadulach or Culnadaluch, Clachdow, Kilvaree, Kirktown, Lailt, Stonefield, Taynuilt
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
A church was first built at Muckairn early in the thirteenth century, by Harald, first Bishop of Argyll. Hence it was called Cilleasbuig's Earaild (Bishop Harald's Church). It became a mensal church of the Bishop of Argyll. In 1618 the parishes of Ardchattan and Muckairn were united. They were severed again in 1649, but in 1661 their disjunction was repealed, and Muckairn was again joined to Ardchattan. In 1829 a parliamentary church was built for this district, and on 9 December 1846 the parish of Muckairn was again disjoined from Ardchattan. There were of old two chapels within the bounds, St Ronan's at Kilmaronaig and St Mary's at Kilvorie.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Connel. This parish gets its name from an ancient chapel of St Conal which stood at the landing-place where Conal Ferry crosses Loch Etive. On 18 March 1910, the parish of Connel was disjoined from St Columba's, Oban, Muckairn, and Kilbride. The modern parish church is styled St Oran's.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Muckairn (QO)
Connel (QS)
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1746-1854 | Muckairn | 529 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Muckairn | 529 | RD |
| 1970-1971 | Oban | 529 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Oban | 526 | RD |
| 2009 | Argyll and Bute, Oban | 526 | RD |
| 2026 | (Muckairn) Argyll and Bute Council; Taynuilt Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Oban) Argyll and Bute Council; Oban Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
By the Reverend Mr Ludovick Grant.
"The number of inhabitants in the united parishes (of Ardchattan and Muckairn) is between 2300 and 2400. Within these two or three years 140 persons emigrated from hence to America; and this year more are preparing to follow, being much encouraged by the flattering accounts of the former emigrants. Several families have removed to the low country, where the wages are high.
The people in general are sober, industrious, and intelligent; much inclined to hospitality, humane and charitable, ready to relieve the distressed, from whatever quarter they may come. They are all of the Established church, and punctual in their attendance on divine worship. The farmers make a decent appearance; seem to enjoy the comforts and conveniences of life suitable to their station; and acknowledge that they have less difficulty in paying their rents (though considerably increased) than they had 30 years ago."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 6, p. 174
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 468
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
