User:MauraWen/sandbox Kilmodan

The Kilmodan Carved Stones are a group of West Highland carved grave slabs found within the churchyard of Kilmodan Church, Clachan of Glendaruel in Scotland.They are in the care of Historic Scotland.

Description
The late-medieval carved grave slabs are located in the churchyard of Kilmodan Church, in Clachan of Glendaruel, within the Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

"Many of these have been placed in a small building at the rear of the churchyard to protect them from the elements. The building probably belonged to the Campbells of Auchenbreck and was used as a burial enclosure."

"A collection of late-medieval sculptured stones, set in a churchyard burial aisle. The Kilmodan Sculptured Stones comprise nine late-medieval West Highland grave slabs and one post-Reformation grave slab from 1636. An 11th stone was believed to be the head of the medieval Cross of Garvie, but is now thought to be a stone pillar worn to its present shape by its use as a tethering post. The stones all come from a graveyard surrounding St Modan’s Church in the village of Clachan of Glendaruel."

"All but one of the Kilmodan late-medieval slabs are carved in the same style common to mid-Argyll, Lorn and Cowal. Their decorations include:

panels of interlace and intertwined plant stems swords and tools, including what appears to be a blacksmith’s tongs a range of animals, both real and fantastic – a deer hunt, a unicorn, and animals battling with axes and spears are all depicted human figures on four slabs The largest collection of stones in this style is at Kilmartin Church.

A post-Reformation grave-slab A large grave-slab dating to 1636 commemorates Donald McCloy, the minister of Kilmodan from 1611 to 1651. Records show McCloy resigned his ministry due to old age, and the large number of English-speaking Lowlanders moving into the parish.

The surrounding churchyard contains many more fine post-Reformation gravestones and tombs, many of which are well-preserved."