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 before the dawn of the Reformation in Scotland in 1560. It was in 1654 that the Lochranza Chapel of Ease was built. This fell into disrepair but was rebuilt in 1712 at the instigation of Duchess Anne, daughter of James 1st of Hamilton. Also she gave a stipend and the farm of Colliemhor for a nominal rent.

In 1822 Mr Angus McMillan, great, great grandfather of Harold McMillan, (Prime Minister 1954 to 1962) ministered in Lochranza Chapel. It became the centre of the preaching of the Gospel on the island. People came from all parts of the island to worship, even from Kintyre and Bute weather permitting! The following years saw changes with the property again falling into disrepair and in 1894 the 12th Duke of Hamilton chose to restore Lochranza Chapel and granted 0.99 of an acre surrounding the Church for a graveyard. In 1918 Lochranza became a ministerial charge of the Church of Scotland and an Endowment Fund was raised enabling the Chapel of Ease to become a Quad Sacra and now became known as St Bride’s Church. In 1930 Lochranza was united with Pirnmill the parish extending from Imachar to Sannox and in 1977 they were linked with St Molio’s Church in Shiskine.

In 2004 the North Arran linkage evolved and included Brodick and Corrie Churches as well as Lochranza and Shiskine . In 2023 it became part of the Isle of Arran Church of Scotland and so has returned to being a centre of worship for the island.