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Killearnan

Associated Chapels: Redcastle {NGR NH58_49_}; Artafallie {c.NGR NH 588501}; "Spittal Shore" {NGR NH 562492}; Allangrange {NGR NH 625515}.

Parish Church:   OS Ref: NGR NH 539492         H.E.S. No: NH54NW 14       Dedication: St Iturnan

The medieval church of Kilearnan stood some 4 miles west of the {Kessock} Ferry. "It is situate near the shore upon a small height, having the house of Redcastle to the east within less than a quarter of a mile, very beautifull and possessed for a considerable time by descendants from the family of Seaforth, and the house of Tarradale a mile west, belonging to MacKenzie of Applecross."¹

Many of the lands about this church belonged in their time to the Knights Templar, who operated a 'hospital' for travellers and pilgrims going to Tain. It is where the place-name "Spittal Shore" is dervived.

There was no chapel at Artafallie. This was a chaplainry in the cathedral of Ross founded on the income from the lands of Artafallie (Ardfally, Ardfalie) which would seem to be synonymous with the modern place-name of Arpafeelie. Of course, it was known as the Artafallie Chaplainry.
In 1575, King James VI gave the chaplaincy of Artafally, in Redcastle, to James Davidson, son of John Davidson, tailor in Edinburgh, to keep him at school (along with the chaplainry of St Lawrence in Dingwall); in 1586, his brother, Thomas Davidson, got the same for seven years to support him in the College of Cambridge in England.