Dedicated to Researching Rosslyn Chapel, The Knights Templar and Scottish Freemasonry

The above image is, unfortunately, all that remains of Kilmun Collegiate Church. Founded in 1441 it is the only collegiate church in the Highlands. Even the description requires to be heavily qualified. The location of the church, on the north eastern banks of the appropriately named Holy Loch, is separated from the lowlands of Scotland (where the majority of Scottish Collegiate Churches are to be found) by two miles of the Firth of Clyde.

The location shows that the founder, Sir Duncan Campbell, was a Highland chief with considerable interest, and influence, in the affairs of lowland Scotland where the ultimate, monarchical, power lay.

This collegiate church is similar to Rosslyn Chapel in that it too was built by a locally powerful landowner. In fact the Campbells of the mid 15th century were more than just a local power and national aspirations. Unlike the St Clairs of Rosslyn, the Campbells did not have a castle or other fortification near to the collegiate church. Why Duncan Campbell thought it necessary (other than the obvious one of having prayers said to reduce the time he and his family spent in purgatory) to have a collegiate church, particularly in this place is not known. It may be that he was simply following the ‘fashion’ of lowland families and that is perhaps why it was built so near the highland/lowland divide. Kilmun Collegiate Church was the only collegiate church in the highland (and than only just) was Campbell wary of the possible derision of his kinfolk in following lowland ‘fashion’.

Kilmun shows that Scottish Collegiate Churches were essentially a lowland phenomena (Rosslyn Chapel included) and were never founded in the clan lands of the Highlands - Kilmun being the exception that proves the rule.

One curiosity is that the only collegiate church in the area where the Knights Templar are said to have hidden, 1307 - 1314, has no connection with the Order whereas the area around Rosslyn Chapel, where the Knights Templar did not hide, is claimed to have links to the Order.

The image shows the tower with a sloping exterior wall. This is a buttress added to the structure to support the wall of the tower.