Description

Probably Paterson, Largs, dated 1835. Symmetrical 2-stage, 3- by 3-bay plain gothic style church with 3-stage square-plan belfry tower centred in 'nave-and-aisles' gable to E. Harl-pointed rubble sandstone; pink sandstone dressings; coursed sandstone ashlar tower. Raised base course; moulded string course to tower; corniced eaves; polished blocking course. Narrow strip quoins; droved pink rubble sandstone quoins; droved pink rubble long and short surrounds to polished, pointed-arched openings; chamfered reveals; chamfered cills; sandstone mullions; architraved hoodmoulds.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: advanced tower at centre comprising 2-leaf timber panelled door at ground; timber panelled fanlight set in pointed-arch surround; large, Y-traceried window aligned above. Gableted pinnacles surmounting 2nd stage cornice to outer left and right; small louvred opening centred in upper stage. Single windows recessed at ground flanking entrance.

N (SIDE) ELEVATION: Y-traceried windows in all 3 bays.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: Y-traceried windows in all 3 bays.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: large, Y-traceried window centred beneath apex; carved figurative stops to hoodmould. Small, blind opening dated "1835" above; surmounting crucifix finial. Boarded, Tudor-arched openings at ground in bays flanking centre.

Predominantly opaque glazing (part missing). Original stained glass window to W. Roof missing; replacement rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 1996.

GRAVEYARD, BOUNDARY WALL, GATEPIERS AND GATES: various headstones in surrounding graveyard. Rubble coping to random rubble wall enclosing site. Stop-chamfered, square-plan ashlar piers flanking entrance; moulded cornices; pyramidal caps; wrought-iron vehicular access gates.

Statement of Interest

Derelict, empty and roofless 1996. Photographs held in the NMRS show an unusual interior arrangement with a full length common communion table running E-W down the centre of the church flanked by timber pews. Box pews, facing W lined the side aisles. According to the SVBWG Handbook, the unusual communion table was formed, when necessary, by the conversion of pew ends. The photographs also show a timber panelled gallery situated to the E and a timber panelled pulpit to the W. Despite the church's state of disrepair, the graveyard, boundary walls, gatepiers and gates remain remarkably intact. The building of both the church and the nearby manse (not listed) is thought to have been by Paterson of Largs to a cost of ?6,000.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• St Colmac's Church, Bute at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q56623458

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record