Tarbert Parish Church Built 1775 Enlarged 1842 Rebuilt 1886
In the Statistical Account of 1791-1799 it is recorded that a Royal Bounty Mission Station had been established at Tarbert in 1775. 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. In August 1885 demolition was begun and work commenced on the construction of a new church to the design of Glasgow architects McKissack and Rowan. The cost was to be £3,000 and it would be built to seat 600 persons.
The buildings hill site prominence is physically crowned by the superb tall west tower and its crown and lantern Scots Gothic spire, certainly one of the major land marks of the area rising some 100 feet above the hilltop. The Church’s nave runs south west from the tower and is presented with a twin gabled façade on its main front northern elevation. On the southern corner of the Church sits the Church Hall which abuts the Church’s south eastern gable, making up what is in both size and status a formidable structure. There is an Eighteenth-century graveyard within walking distance.
The interior of the Church and Hall are pleasing in particular the main Church, and both are dominated by painted stencilled designs of waves, pillars, roses, forget-me-nots and lilies presented in bright colours across the roof soffit boarding. These unique patterns are most prominent within the main Church’s taller arch braced timber trussed roof structure and presents something which is quite rare within Argyll and the West Coast of Scotland.
Registered Charity No: SC002622