A small sailing catamaran, with a father and his son aboard, capsized in the blustery conditions off Ardentinny, Loch Long on Monday afternoon (24 September, 2007).
The father and young son were unable to right the capsized craft and their predicament was spotted by an onlooker on shore, who contacted the Coastguard
Helensburgh’s RNLI Lifeboat was called out, and the crew headed at full speed towards Ardentinny – a passage time of about 20 minutes
An M.O.D. launch and rigid inflatable from the neighbouring Coulport naval base were also available to help with the rescue, and their crews managed to right the capsized catamaran
The youngster was taken across to the naval base in the M.O.D. inflatable craft to check if he required any medical assistance.
The Helensburgh Lifeboat crew towed the catamaran with the father on board, to the Ardentinny shore.
The young lad did not require medical attention and was returned to Ardentinny by the M.O.D. craft and re-united with his father.
Ardentinny School closed in the late 90s, however, a high-profile campaign staged in 1992 brought together villagers in an effort to retain the school, as shown in this historic TV documentary.
A ‘Proposed Works to Listed Building’ notice has been posted by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park at Ardentinny Church which was recently offered for sale and is now ‘Under Offer’. The notice pertains to the removal of ‘ecclesiastical fixtures prior to sale’.
The fixtures include the Communion Table; Canopy; Pulpit; Pews; and War Memorials. The application states that the fixtures will be removed to Strone Church and Dunoon Museum.
Queen Victoria was just 20, the first commercial electric telegraph line came into use and Ireland was hit by the worst cyclone in 300 years. It was 1838, and the Douglas Family (the then Laird of Glenfinart) had commissioned a small church on the banks of Loch Long.
Last weekend Ardentinny Church held its final service, a celebration of Harvest Thanksgiving, closing its doors some 179 years after its opening. Ardentinny’s unique little church seated approximately 100 and was one of the Church of Scotland’s three ‘Shore churches’, the others being Kilmun and Strone. The decision to close it came as a surprise to many.
When asked to comment on the closure, a spokesperson from Church of Scotland said:
“The Church of Scotland manages one of the country’s largest property portfolios comprising over 5,000 properties. These include churches, manses, halls and houses as well as a large number of care services and a variety of other buildings.
We have had an excess of church buildings since the 1920s and must continually assess our need for these properties to ensure a prudent use of charity assets, particularly when they may no longer be in suitable locations.
Following the closure of Ardentinny Church and the proposed closure of Kilmun Church, the Kirk Session, Presbytery of Argyll and General Trustees of the Church of Scotland will work together to decide on the future of the two buildings.”
During the final service which the Rev. Joseph Stewart and his congregation kindly agreed for us to film, Reverend Stewart said that this was a celebration, not only of Harvest Time but a celebration of the saintly souls who had worshipped in this sanctuary over the years, leaving their spiritual imprint and example for those who came behind them. The congregation was also encouraged to work together to ensure that there is a future for The Church on ‘The Shore’
Please feel free to share your thoughts and/or memories of Ardentinny Church via comments below or on our Facebook page.
With thanks to The Rev. Joseph Stewart and the congregation of Ardentinny Church.
The photograph above was taken at “The Bothy” Stronvochlan, circa 1931. This appears to be the house that is now known as Ambleside Cottage, Ardentinny.
Ian MacPherson-Blane who kindly provided us with the photograph, describes the scene.. “The man in the doorway was the cook for the Bothy and looked after whoever was staying there, gamekeepers or forestry workers. The three children in their bare feet in front of him are my mother (Margaret MacPherson) and her brothers Donnie and Jackie. The three well dressed children with shoes are the holidaymakers who were staying at Seaview (now “Keeper’s Cottage”) where my mother’s mother would look after them. Probably the forerunner of the bed and breakfast industry”.
