Kilarrow
Kilarrow is a parish comprising the central and northern parts of the island of Islay in Argyleshire. It extends from Laggan Bay on the east side of Loch Indaal to the northern extremity of the island. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bowmore, Bridgend, Port Askaig
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of this parish was dedicated to St Malrubh. In 1618 the parishes of Kilarrow and Kilchoman were united. They were disjoined again on 22 February 1769. In or about that year also the parish church was removed from Kilarrow to Bowmore. At Laggan in this parish stand the ruins of a chapel of St Columba. There were formerly three other chapels within the bounds, at Cill an Ailean, Cill Eileagan, and Corsapol. There is now a mission chapel at Muileandrie (Moulindry).
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Kilmeny. The parish of Kilmeny was united to Kilarrow before 1550. Early in the nineteenth century a parliamentary church was built to take the place of the ancient ruined church of Kilmeny. On 13 May 1849 Kilmeny was disjoined quoad sacra from Kilarrow. In this parish there are mission chapels at Bunnahavain and Caol Ila.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Bowmore, or Kilarrow (QO)
Kilmeny (QS)
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1763-1854 | Bowmore | 536 | OPR |
| 1855-1969 | Bowmore | 536 | RD |
| 2009 | Argyll and Bute, Islay | 546 | RD |
| 2026 | Argyll and Bute Council; Islay Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Bowmore: Bell, Brown, Cameron, Campbell, Carmichael, Currie, Morrison, Shaw, Sinclair, Smith
Kilarrow: Bell, Brown, Campbell, Ferguson, Fletcher, Kennedy, Livingston, Shaw, Sinclair, Smith
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr John Murdoch, Minister.
"From a late survey, the number of souls in Killarrow, including those in the village, amount to 2500. There are in Kilmeny about 2000. Indeed the whole population of Islay has increased greatly within these 40 years, owing principally to the tenants, who are in possession of large farms, dividing their possessions among their children, which encourages marriage. Some, however, who are reduced in their circumstances, are obliged to emigrate.
The village of Bowmore was begun in the year 1768, and laid out on a regular plan. There are already 110 houses built in the village. The inhabitants are increasing. The number at present (1793), of old and young, is about 500.
The inhabitants are mostly natives of the island, and all belong to the Established Church. They are hospitable, generous, and humane; and, like all islanders, attached to their country."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 11, p. 298
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 668
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
