Keills Chapel is a small chapel located in the west Highlands

Scottish Highlands

The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, near the village of Tayvallich

Tayvallich

Tayvallich, pronounced "Tay-vee-al-ich", is a small village in Knapdale, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The village name has origins in gaelic: Taigh a' Bhealaich . The village is built around a sheltered harbour on Loch Sween. It has a primary school, small caravan park, pub and village store. The...

, Knapdale

Knapdale

Knapdale forms a rural district of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. It includes two parishes, North Knapdale and South Knapdale....

. Its name originates from the word . The re-roofed structure contains an important collection of early stone sculpture, including six early Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 cross-slabs, around forty late medieval grave slabs recovered from the chapel or churchyard, and a celtic cross

Celtic cross

A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...

 which originally stood outside the chapel where a modern blank replacement now stands. The original has been moved inside the chapel to protect it from the elements.

The complete and well-preserved late 8th-early 9th century cross is carved from local grey-green epidiorite. It is only decorated on one face, the sides and back being dressed smooth without further decoration. Its proportions are unusual, with very short side-arms broader than the shaft and upper limb. The latter shows the archangel

Archangel

An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...

 St. Michael standing over a serpent (a symbol of triumph over the devil). The lower limb shows Christ

Christ

Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...

 on the Judgement Seat. He is holding a book, possibly the Bible or New Testament

New Testament

The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

, symbolising mercy, in his left hand, and a flail in his right, symbolising judgement. There is a circular design at the crossing, with three round objects in the centre, which may symbolise the Holy Trinity. Around this are four animals representing the four evangelists

Four Evangelists

In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...

.

The chapel is in the care of Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...

 as is Kilmory Knap Chapel

Kilmory Knap Chapel

Kilmory Knap Chapel is a 13th century Christian chapel, located at the tiny hamlet of Kilmory, in Knapdale, Argyll and Bute, on the west coast of Scotland....

on the opposite shore of Loch Sween. Open at all reasonable times. No entrance charge.