Our story
From an ancient church site at Kilmun to a lottery for the 21st century: the story of the Shore Kirk and the parish it serves.
A church on the shore
St Columba's Church stands on Shore Road at Strone, where the Holy Loch meets Loch Long. Its tower, the oldest part of the building, dates from 1858 and was kept when the church was rebuilt in 1907 and 1908 by Peter MacGregor Chalmers, one of the best-known Scottish church architects of his day.
Inside you will find fine stained glass by artists including Stephen Adam and Gordon Webster, and the marble war memorial that came from St Andrew's, Kilmun, in 1937.
Our timeline
- 12th century
Kilmun, the oldest church site on the shore
Christian worship at Kilmun goes back to the saint Munn. The ruin of a 12th-century church still stands beside St Munn's Church and the Argyll Mausoleum.
- 1839
A church for Ardentinny
A church is built at Ardentinny, near the mouth of Glen Finart, to serve the village on the west shore of Loch Long.
- 1858
The first church at Strone
The first church is built at Strone Point. Its square, battlemented tower and spire still stand today and have long been used as a landmark by shipping.
- 1874
Ardentinny becomes a parish
The quoad sacra parish of Ardentinny is formed from parts of Kilmun and Lochgoilhead.
- 1884
Strone becomes a parish
The quoad sacra parish of Strone is constituted within the Presbytery of Dunoon.
- 1907-08
St Columba's Church is built
The architect Peter MacGregor Chalmers designs a new Romanesque church at Strone, keeping the 1858 tower and re-using stone from the old building, with Corrie sandstone inside.
- 1912
Registered as a charity
On 13 April 1912 the congregation is recorded as a charity. Today it is Scottish charity SC003410, part of the Church of Scotland.
- 1937
The war memorial moves to Strone
The marble war memorial is brought to St Columba's from St Andrew's Church, Kilmun.
- 1971
A listed building
On 20 July 1971 St Columba's Church, with its halls, walls and gatepiers, is listed as a Category C building of special architectural or historic interest.
- 2017
Three congregations, one church family
The congregations of Strone, Kilmun (St Munn's) and Ardentinny are linked. Ardentinny church later closes and is sold, and the united congregation worships at the Shore Kirk.
- Recent years
Hall and kitchen upgraded
We upgrade our hall and kitchen to create a warm, accessible and welcoming space for local groups and community events.
- 2026
The Shore Kirk Weekly Lottery begins
Our weekly lottery launches, with the first draw on Friday 16 October 2026, to help secure the church's work in the parish for the years ahead.
The parish today
Today the Shore Kirk serves Kilmun, Strone, Blairmore and Ardentinny. Many of our neighbours live alone or some distance from services, which is why visiting, Christmas cards and a warm hall matter so much here.
A hall for the whole community
Upgrading our hall and kitchen was a big step for a small congregation. The result is a bright, warm space where local groups can meet, families can celebrate and people can simply drop in for a cup of tea and some company.
Keeping that space open costs money every week: heating, lighting, insurance, cleaning and repairs. That is one of the main reasons we started the lottery.
Be part of the next chapter
Every lottery entry helps write the next part of our story.