Kilillan

Chapel Site: OS Ref: NGR NG 947301 H.E.S. No: NG93SW 1

Kilillan = Cill Fhaolain - the church of Fhaolain (Fillan).

This is a most ancient Christian site which, traditionally, is attributed to St Fillan and/or his disciples. This would date the muinntir (community) to sometime in the 8th-century - some 300 years before the venerable church of at Kilduich. A fragment of medieval walling used to exist near the site of the former lodge which supported the local tradition that St Fillan founded a religious community here in the 8th century. There are the remains of pre-historic settlement¹ in the strath showing that there has been some sort of community here for many generations.

There are, now, no visible remains of a church on the site but the burial-ground, which is still used occasionally, is still to be found without difficulty. St Fillan is said to have died here and a tree used to be pointed out as being his burial-place. However, a number of years ago, a local resident affirmed that the tree, and a well, were located some distance away at NGR NG 9475 3497, on the old path leading over to Attadale. An peculiar story, often told in olden times, was that the saint's body was buried facing north to south rather than looking eastwards.

In days gone by there was a township at Kilillan but now the glen is almost deserted.

¹ HES Canmore database details a hut circle with a cup-marked stone nearby {NGR NG 943292}, a possible broch {NGR NG 94_30_} and a steatite cup found at the supposed broch site.

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