Tarbert Parish Church History

In The Statistical Account, of 1791-1799, the Rev. Andrew Campbell (Minister of the parish of Kilcalmonell) records
that a Royal Bounty Mission Station had been established at Tarbert in 1775. The first minister of the mission was the
Rev. John Smith who went on to become minister of the church in Campbeltown.

It was however the Rev. Colin Fisher Campbell. in 1837 who set down the earliest description so far found of the
Tarbert Church. He estimated the cost of the building at that date would have been £500. The actual cost of the
construction in 1775 was not known.

With the exception of a small grant from The Synod of Argyll the cost of building the first church at Tarbert was borne
by the Stonefield family. The church had seating for 400 people (including those at the communion table) let at a seat
rent of one shilling and threepence per person per annum, (approx. 6 new pence.) The seating was apportioned at 18
inches per person.

There were in addition 40 seatings set aside for the poor, and 'stranger' fishermen. The minister goes on to report that
during the fishing season, the visiting fishermen were numerous enough to fill the church to the exclusion of the people
of the district. He complains of the smallness of the church which could accommodate "...but the half" of the local
people who might be expected to attend, and urged that the Tarbert Mission be promoted to a quoad sacra
parish.

The Minister's stipend of £60 per annum was paid by the committee for managing The Royal Bounty. No glebe or
manse was available to the Minister but Mr. Campbell provided a suitable residence for £20 per annum in lieu. The
total annual seat rents (£25) was given to Mr Campbell, of Stonefield presumably in return for his family having paid
the initial building costs.

The church door collections along with other gifts and donations amounted to around £70 per year. Of this the beadle
(caretaker) was paid the sum of £2. 5/- per year ! The precenter (who led the congregational singing – as no musical
instruments were permitted) was paid the sum of £2 per year.

After these charges, around £60 per year was available for distribution by the minister and kirk session to help the poor
of the parish. In January 1840, 74 barrels of coal were distributed at a cost of l/4d per barrel. Payments of 8/- each
were made to some 20 needy persons - mostly widows. 16/4d was paid for a coffin and shroud for the body of a
stranger, found dead at the roadside.

Occasional payments were made to strangers as they passed through Tarbert. In other instances goods were provided
in lieu of money. Meal, biscuit and milk being the most common items. A hat and a pair of shoes feature in the
accounts, and in one case 3/- was paid for thatching a house.

The church was enlarged in 1842 but it was not until 1864 that full parish status was attained. By 1885 the enlarged
church of 1842 was dilapidated, and unable to cope with the needs of the growing community of Tarbert. (The original
building was now 110 years old).

In August 1885 demolition was begun and work commenced on the construction of a new church. The cost was to be
£3.000 and it would be built to seat 600 persons.

Saturday 17th October 1885 witnessed the laying of the Memorial Stone. 'The Oban Tunes' newspaper reported "the
interesting, ceremony performed by William Graham ofErines. At 2 o'clock a procession was formed at the Good
1
Templars Hall, and headed by the band of the local Artillery Volunteers, marched to the church. As many as possible
ascended the scaffold to the stone which was suspended by a crane at the south-east comer of the tower. The Sabbath
School children sang an appropriate hymn, thereafter the Rev. John McLean B.D. engaged in prayer. He then called on
Mr Graham to lay the stone, at the same time presenting him with a beautiful silver trowel. The stone then swung into
position and Mr Graham declared it properly laid amidst loud cheering. The 100th Psalm having been sung by the
church choir, Mr James McLarty proposed a vote of thanks. Mr. Graham was also presented with a mallet made out of
the pulpit stair rail of the old church".

The report stated that a sealed bottle was placed in a cavity below the memorial stone. The bottle contained a history
and photographs of the old church, names of ministers and trustees, coin of the realm, corn, wine and oil, and various
newspapers.

In 1892 'The Argyllshire Advertiser' printed an article by "Aristides" who described Tarbert's new church as doing
credit to any parish in Scotland. "... It is decidedly the handsomest church I have seen in Scotland, outside of the
wealthy cities. Internally, the church is conveniently arranged,' but the seats would be none the worse of being raised an
inch or two ..... There is an excellent choir, and obviously the designer of the church had in his mind's eye the day in
which an organ will be used as an aid to public worship in this sanctuary, and a large stain glass window will grace the
south end wall behind the pulpit".

Although he commented in some detail on the interior of the church, he failed to mention the unusual colour pattern
decoration on the interior of the roof.

The lower part is painted in a series of pillared arches, above which a myriad of coloured starry patterns adorn the
wooden ceiling.

This is likely to have been designed by the architects of the church, Messrs. J. McKissock and W. G. Rowan of
Glasgow.

They were also architects of Girvan North Parish Church which has a similar style of roof pattern. Since the new
lighting was installed in 1981, this decoration has been seen to better advantage than before.

The main feature of the church is its square tower which rises over 100 feet from the ground surmounted by an unusual
crown and lantern structure. The entrance is at the base of this tower and contains the staircase to the church's gallery.

There are three upper floors within this tower. On the first is housed the clock mechanism. The clock, manufactured by
Gillet and Co. of Croydon, was gifted to the parishioners and Kirk Session of Tarbert Parish by
James Elder McLarty.

The compartment above, contains the bell which calls the congregation to worship each Sunday as it has done since
1886 . It carries the inscription "This bell was purchased by subscription collected by Mr. Duncan Mcllriach" and was
cast by Munro Thomson and Co. Glasgow.

The top compartment has a system of rods connected to the clock hands on each of the four sides of the tower. These
are operated by a system of gears linked to the mechanism two floors below.

The church on the hill has been the focal point of the village both visually and spiritually since the first mission building
in 1775.

A great many changes have taken place in Tarbert Parish Church over the years: more, perhaps, to the congregation
itself than to the bunding.
2
Since the present church was built in the late nineteenth century, the fishing related industries which used to provide
the main source of employment in Tarbert have declined dramatically. Although there is still some fishing out of
Tarbert: new industries have grown up; and the community has diversified its energies into other fields, particularly
those of tourism, of forestry and of leisure sailing.

The people of Tarbert have had to cope with many changes in a relatively short space of time: and it is encouraging to
note how many have stayed faithful to the church, and drawn strength and inspiration from worshipping here, Sunday
by Sunday.

We are keen to encourage those who are not necessarily church-goers to come about the church: seeing an "open-
door" policy as a vital part of our outreach to the community as a whole. During the summer months, we interpret this
quite literally, and the church is kept open all day so that anyone who wishes to may drop in - either to look around, or
to spend some time in quiet reflection and prayer - can do so.

Like most other churches throughout the country, Tarbert has its concerns and its problems to face: but with the
dedication, enthusiasm and wide-ranging abilities of our congregation, together with the quite outstanding goodwill of
the wider community, we are, looking forward to the future with confidence and hope.

This church is a sanctuary where we may be renewed and refreshed, to return ro the constant demands of the world
outwith its rugged, ancient walls.

It is our fervent prayer that you feel renewed and go forth in the sure knowledge that the Living Lord loves you and
goes with you.

"Come to me, all whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give you relief. Bend your necks to my yoke, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and your souls will find relief. For my yoke is good to bear, my
load is light." St. Matthew 11 v 28 - 30 (N.E.B.)