GillDEBOOK Welcome to our church! The word, Rosneath, derived from the Gaelic . "Rosneveth", means "headland of the sanctuary". From very early times there has been a Christian Church on the Peninsula. The present Parish Church of Rosneath, erected to plans prepared by David Cousin, a well-known church architect, was opened for public worship on Sunday 11th September 1853. Owing to its popularity the South Transept was added in 1862 and the North Transept in 1873. It was named after Modan at the centenary in 1953, emphasising its Celtic connection. It received its present name, Rosneath St.Modan's Parish Church, by decree of the Session on 14th June 1982 prior to the linkage with Craigrownie Church. Rosneath St.Modan's Parish Church St.Modan Details of our saint are sketchy. He features in the Aberdeen Breviary (1509-10), one of the first books to be printed in Scotland. Here his feast day is given as 4th February where he is described as, "the venerated and most religious father of many monks", who, after he had converted many unbelievers in Argyll, settled again in the west coast of Scotland, not far from Dumbarton and the Garelocb where, "he fell asleep in the Lord, in the place where the parochial church of Rosneath stands dedicated to his honour: his most sacred relics rest and are profoundly venerated in a chapel in the cemetery of the said church" Several hundred yards upstream from the old church is believed to be tbe site of St.Modan's Well and Modan is reputed to have died near the old church around 700AD. His name is also associated with churches at Benderloch, Glendaruel, Stirling and Falkirk. In 1880, a tombstone was found four feet below the ground in the old graveyard. This was bolted to the wall, but then brought into the present church for protection in 1920. In 1997 it was moved forward to its present position so that the back carvings are visible. There is good reason to believe this is the actual gravestone of Modan. A full portrait of "St.Medan can be found in "Rosneath Papers" by Rev.William MeikJejohn.M.A (1982) Previous Churches at Rosneatb St.Medan's original church at Rosneath would have been a wattle and mud construction. It was reputed to be one of the oldest churches in Scotland. Prior to 1648, Rosneath and Cardross were the two major parishes in this area, administered from Paisley Abbey. Together with these two churches were three Chapels of Ease - St.Bride's in Glenfruin, Kirkmichael in Helensburgh and St.Michael's at Faslane, the ruins of which can still be seen in the Faslane graveyard. There is evidence of a second church built around the 12th century. The date of foundation is uncertain but the earliest notice occurs before 1199. Part of the crypt remains under three concrete slabs to the south west of the old ruin. Under these lies a flight of stone steps and an iron gate. Lady Elizabeth Clough Taylor of Camsail House, a daughter of George, 8th Duke of Argyll, was interred here in 1897. In the sixteenth century, a third church was built with gable and belfry. It was cruciform in shape and the ornate belfiy was added in 1610 to house the Burgerhuis Bell. The church is described: 2 "as cruciform in shape with a row ofs tone images round the pulpit. Th ere was a11 ornamental boll'/ for holy water 0 11 open side ofth e entrance do01: 011 the right hand side of the door were 5 or 6 j ougs. iron manacles for detaining wrong doers by the neck." This church was deemed to be too elaborate after the Refonnation and the then minister, Dr George Drummond, persuaded the Duke of Argyll to pull down the old structure which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This occurred in 1780 and was replaced by the resulting fourth church on the site, the ruins of which can be seen today. Despite incorporating the gable end and belfry it wa a very plain structure, known by the Duke of Argyll as "The Barn". Marks of the Duke's Gallery can be seen in the wall. It is described thus, "The seats were ofrou gh deals and the floor was long only ofe arth while a galle1y ran round three sides of the interior. Th e pulpit stood between the two windows next to the manse. The walls of the building were plain and whitewashed and grew green through damp and mould. When the sacrament was dispensed there was one long table rnnning down the passage f rom door to doOf; the ministers and elders occupying one end" This fourth church remained in use until 1853 when the then minister Dr.Robert Story was instrumental in having built the present structure on a new site further down the Clachan. A Tour round the present Church Th e Nave People have been worshipping in thi s bui lding since its opening in 1853. Look at the Bronze Shield to the right of the entrance door on which is inscribed the names of the ministers of the church, as far as can be ascertained, since Modan brought Christianity to the Rosneath Pen insula about 600AD.This was presented in 1907 by Mr Turnbull of Aitkenshaw. Those on the list since the first Dr.Story have led the worship in this building. The list of mini sters of Rosneath Church will be found at the end of this Guide. 3 The South Transept If you walk half way up the aisle and tum left to face the south transept your attention will be drawn to the two beautiful stained glass windows made by the renowned Glasgow artist, Douglas Strachan, early in the twentieth century. Both show scenes from the life of Christ. On the left we see an illustration of the text: "And ll'ith his hands he healed them" and Christ carrying hi cross, "For us men and/or our salvation". This window wa dedicated to Mr Lorne Campbell of Peaton, an elder in thi s church, and presented by his widow. He and his wife walked from Peaton House and back every Sunday, a distance of some eight miles over the moors. Mr Campbell was factor to the Duke of A rgyll when be and Princess Louise were resident at Rosneatb Castle. It immediately emphasises the strong Campbel I and rural connections which have been characteri tic of tl;lis area throughout its hi tory. Directl y below this window was the Argyll pew regularly occupied by the Duke and Duche when they were resident at Rosneath. The Duke's signature scrawled on the pew bas been preserved. The Lorne Campbell Window The second window, on the right was installed in memory of Dr Robert Herbert Story, minister from 1860 to 1887. It was dedicated on 24th October 1908 having been donated by hjs friends throughout the Church of Scotland. Robert Story was a well loved and forward looking minister 4 who left to become Professor of Ecclesiastical History and ultimately became Principal of Glasgow University. The theme of the window is appropriately, "Zeal for thy house has eaten me up" R.H.Story Memorial Window Robert Story Memorial Sculpture This is illustrated by temple scenes of Christ ejecting the moneychangers from the holy place and then shows him teaching the people in their place. At the apex of the window is the burning bush - emblem of the Church of Scotland. Throughout Dr.Story's years at Rosneath, church and manse were centres of social and theological debate in Scotland and many renowned intellectuals visited here. Adjacent is the Robert Story Memorial Sculpture the work of William Brodie, RSA, and erected in 1861 to honour his father whose inspiration and determination led to the bujlding 5 of this church which replaced the building surrounded by the old grave­ yard further up The Clachan. Dr.Story's grave can be seen close to the wall in the Old Graveyard. The Illuminated Panel The Illuminated Panel, surrounded by a highly decorative border of ecclesiastical symbols and listing the Ten Commandments, on the side wall, was a gift from the Dowager Duchess of Argyll in 1915 in memory of her husband and son, the eighth and ninth Dukes. It is by the artist, W. Muirhead, RSA, and replaces an earlier one which was situated behind the communion table in the church before the 1894 renovations when it was irrevocably damaged. Th e Chancel The oak pulpit with its fine carving was gifted by Mr and Mrs David Donaldson of Cochno, in memory of their three children Kathleen, David and Robert. At its base is The Lintel Stone which belonged to the old 6 castle of Rosneath. It is carved with the Argyll family motto "ne /obliviscaris" and bears the monogram A.V.C - M.D of Archibald Victor Campbell and his wife Margaret Douglas. Archibald was first and only Marquis of Argyll. The date is 1624. The Chancel Standing at the chancel steps we look back to the large and beautiful Window, on the east wall gifted to the church in memory of the Rev. John McLeod Campbell. This window was installed in 1873 by the Glasgow stained glass artists Clayton and Bell "as a gift of his friends in record of their love and reverence." It is to the credit of Dr.Story and the parish of Rosneath that Dr.McLeod Campbell was made welcome here when shunned by the church at large and driven out of his parish at Rhu for the publication of his book, "The Nature of the Atonement ", and the preaching of his belief that salvation and the atoning love of Christ were freely available for all and not just a certain elect.