The Churches
The Celtic Church
This was founded either by the Irish Saint Fintan Mannu in the 7th century or by the Scottish Saint Mund (or Mundas) in the 10th century. It is known that there has been a religious settlement here since the 6th century. In the 12th century there was a small stone church with wattle beehive hits surrounding it.
The Collegiate Church
In 1240 the Clan Lamont gave the church to Paisley Abbey and in 1334 the Pope granted the Abbot of Kilmun the right to wear the Bishop’s Mitre and ring signifying that he was an important spiritual figure.
In 1442 Duncan Campbell endowed the church which then became a collegiate church saying prayers for the Campbell family. His son Celestine was the first Campbell to be buried at Kilmun as were Campbell descendants until 1949.
The church was sacked by Clan Lamont in 1646 and all that remains of that church is the ruined tower which would have housed the monks.
The Presbyterian Church
From 1688 -1703 the church was rebuilt but separately from the ruined tower. Members of the Campbell Clan were buried under the church floor until 1795 when the remains were moved to the mausoleum adjacent to the church.