Friends of Kilbride

Located three miles south of Oban in tranquil and verdant Lerags, “Glen of the Larch Trees”, The Church of Saint Bride the Virgin in Lorn has been a site of Christian worship since at least the 6th century. From the prehistoric mists of time, it was the location of a sacred well dedicated to the Celtic goddess, Bride. Kilbride was one of Argyll’s most important churches from the early Middle Ages to the Post Reformation era.

The Chiefs of Clan MacDougall, one of Scotland’s oldest, are laid to rest here, along with some 300 others from all walks of life. Stories of the everyday lives of local families and stories of Scotland’s most important events, from the dawn of Columban Christianity to the Reformation, the Jacobite Uprising and the birth of the British Empire are told within the walls of Kilbride.

The non-profit organisation Friends of Kilbride was formed in 2015 to preserve

and promote the site, and is leading an ambitious programme of restoration and renovation of its built heritage, as well as welcoming visitors from around the world and organising outdoor events for the benefit of the local community.

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We achieved Historic Environment Scotland Schedule Monument status for the site in June 2019, and you can read our listing here.

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Our Canmore listing can be found here.

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