Cill Mòr, Kilcholumkill (Kilmore)
Kilninian and Kilmore is a united parish in the Mull district of Argyleshire. It comprehends the islands of Ulva, Gometra, Little Colonsay, Staffa, and Treshinish, and all the northern peninsula of Mull, or the part of that island lying north of Loch Nan Gael. It marches on the south with Torosay and Kilfinichen. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ardalie, Aros, Dervaig
Calgary
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Kilninian and Kilmore were united in 1628. Each of them still has its own church.
Kilninian. The church of this parish was dedicated to St Ninian. It belonged to the Abbey of Iona. There were within the bounds chapels of St Breandan and St Creathanan, and one of St Luag near the Point of Treshnich.
Kilmore, or Kilcholumkill. The church of this parish was dedicated to St Columba. From early times it has been known as Kilmore (Cill Mòr = the Great Church).
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Tobermory. A parliamentary chapel was built here in 1828. On 11 June 1845 the parish of Tobermory was disjoined from Kilmore. Tobar Morie, the Well of St Mary, has given its name to the parish.
Ulva. The church of Ulva was dedicated to St Ewan of Ardstraw. In 1628 the parishes of Kilninian, Kilmore, and Ulva were united. A parliamentary chapel was built in Ulva in 1827. On 11 June 1845 the parish of Ulva was again disjoined from Kilninian and Kilmore.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Kilninian and Kilmore (QO)
Tobermory (QS)
Ulva (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 |
| 1766-1854 | Kilninian and Kilmore | 544 | OPR |
| 1855-1898 | Kilninian and Kilmore | 544 | RD |
| 1899-1969 | Ulva | 544-1 | RD |
| 1899-1969 | Kilninian and Kilmore | 544-2 | RD |
| 2009 | Argyll and Bute, Tobermory | 542 | RD |
| 2026 | Argyll and Bute Council; Mull 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
Beaton, Black, Cameron, Campbell, Kennedy, MacDonald, MacKinnon, MacLean, Paterson, Stewart
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr Archibald M'Arthur.
"The total number of souls, according to a list taken last winter (1791), amounts to 3281.
The village of Tobermory consists of 15 houses, built with stone and lime, 2 stories in height, with slated roofs, and of between 20 and 30 thatched houses, 1 story high; the population is about 300 souls. In this village are a few people, who follow the mercantile line, and serve the settlers and neighbouring districts in goods imported from the Low Country. A boat-builder also, and a cooper, have settled there, and find pretty constant employment in the building of boats, and making of barrels for the fishery. There are, of other crafts, 1 smith, 1 wright, 2 tailors, 2 shoemakers and 3 or 4 small innkeepers; also a corn mill. (See Tobermory.)
Exclusive of those settled at the village, there are of artificers in the parish, 3 smiths, 38 male and 13 female weavers, 1 wright or joiner, 6 boat carpenters, 2 coopers, 14 tailors, 7 shoemakers, 6 cowans, or dry stone builders, and 5 merchants. There are also 5 retailing houses, 2 licensed stills, 1 fulling or waulk-mill, and 8 corn mills.
All the people of the parish are of the Established religion, excepting 2 or 3 obscure families introduced, a few years ago, from South Uist, who are of the Popish persuasion. The people, in general, are fond of religious instruction, sober, honest and industrious, if they had a subject to work upon. They are also humane and charitable, in proportion to their circumstances. But from this general character, there are many exceptions, as might reasonably be expected in so populous a district, and in a situation so uncultivated."
(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 14, p. 139
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 339
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
