St Brides Church - Lochranza A Brief History

Strong historical evidence exists to illustrate that there has been a church on this site since medieval times and certainly since before the dawn of the Reformation  in Scotland in 1560. Originally known as St James's, this name did not survive the anti-catholic feelings of the seventeenth century. It finally became known as St Bride's Church only in 1929 when the established Church of Scotland united with the U.F.Church. The former u.F.Church in the village (now part of The Field Studies Centre.) then became known as "Lochranza East & Pimmill".
It was then that the headstone, with the skull and crossbones, was removed from the interior and motu1ted into the exterior wall. on the north side of the building.
In that same year The Reverent John Colville, minister of the Church, realised his dream and by raising an endowment fund, enabled Lochranza. Chapel to become. a "Quad Sacra•· thereafter known as St. Bride's Church.
The names of Priests who served here, prior to the break with Rome, are unknown but from 1S60, records of the refom1ed clergy, responsible for maintaining the ordinances of religion, are more readily available. At the Refom1atio11. Arran was divided into two parishes Kilmory and Kilbride, the boundary between them leaving Lochranza village and the south-side of the loch in Kihnory, whilst Newton Shore and the north-side of the loch was in Kilbride. Any worship that might have been conducted in the church would therefore have been the responsibility of the Kilmory minister in whose bounds the church lay.
By the mid of 17th Century the existing structure was quoted as being "in no fit state for worship" and a decision was made by the Synod of Argyll, in 1642 that there be a third kirk builded and erected in the said yle (Arran), situated at the head of Lochransay. Unfortunately, due to the violent upheavals of this Civil War period none of this proposal came about at that time . However, records show that in 16S4, a "Chapel of Ease" was built on the site:- A thatched building with an earthen floor. It was within the walls of this chapel that the dead were buried. This building fell in to disrepair and it was not until I 712, thanks to the generosity of The Good Dutchess Anne, the chapel was rebuilt.
The Duchess also provided a stipend for a catechist at Lochranza and the farm of Colliemore at a nominal rent. This licentiate of the church acted as assistant to both the parish ministers of Arran, taking charge of the northern extremities of both parishes, from the Iorsa water in the west to Corrie in the east. In the course of his duties he was responsible for the conduct of worship and assisting in the celebration of the, sacraments.