Kilmuir Wester

Associated Chapels: (none known, but see below).

Parish Church: OS Ref: NGR NH 677501 H.E.S. No: NH65SE 4 Dedication: B.V.M.

The parsonage, along with that of Ardersier, was assigned to the Dean of Ross in the reconstitution of the chapter of Ross confirmed by Pope Alexander IV in 1255/6. A vicarage was erected by 1274 and remained independent at the Refmation. The garbal teinds were still retained by the dean, with a small portion payable to the Bishop of Ross.

This church, dedicated to St. Mary, was the parish church of Kilmuir parish, which was combined with Suddie parish in 1756. It was abandoned in 1762, when the parish church was removed to Knockbain (NH 6459 5225). The church building, remnants of which are still visible, was probably erected in the 15th century but the graveyard, which was still in use in 1877, contained stones with late Celtic carving. There is now no trace of these 'Celtic stones'. However, if we accept that they did indeed exist at one time, then this would be an indication that this is the site of a very ancient church.

The parish of Kilmuir Wester seems to have stretched along the shore of the Moray Firth from Kessock to Munlochy Bay, running inland for about three miles, and becoming gradually narrower as it receded from the shore. It has no high hills, and its surface is composed chiefly of cultivated tracts and moor.

There was a chapel at Haudach or Haldach in this parish, the patronage and tithes of which in 1673 belonged to Alexander Brodie of Lethin (Nairn), and formed part of his lordship, barony, or Regality of Kinloss. {The lands of Easter and Wester Haldach lay within the lordship of Ardmanach of which the chief messuage was Castletoun (Ormond Castle in Avoch).} But it is not certain that this chapel existed before the Reformation.

By a charter dated at Dyngvale {Dingwall} on 8 August 1394, Eufame, Countess of Ross, granted to Sir George of Lesly, lord of Rothes, the ward and relief of the lands of Culmor {Kilmuir}, which formerly belonged to John of Monymusk; granting him also the lands and their dues till the entry of the lawful heirs. In 1454 Andrew Urrie of Forglen was served heir to his brother John of Monimosk, who died vest and seised in the lands of Colmore {Kilmuir}. In 1482 Master James Huntar of Culmore {Kilmuir Wester} rector of Cranstoun (the son of Robert Huntar of Balnirk) sold the lands of Culmore to Hugh le Ross baron of Kilrawak.

In the year 1437, Alexander of Ile, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, granted to the Friars Preachers (Dominicans) of Inverness 20s. of yearly rent from his land and ferry of Estrir Kessok which lay within the bounds of this parish.

In 1561 the dean of Ross Mungo (Kentigern) Monypenny is due money from the land of Drumderphet {Drumderfit, NH 652512} in this parish, which belonged to the deanery of Ross. The implication here is that these lands were part of the dean's prebend which would mean that they were originally church lands associated with the parish.

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