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Writing on The Wall by Suki Urquhart

The writing on the wall under the West Gallery of St. Adamnan’s Kirk in Dull, (see pictures) while signalling an ending of a contract, also marked the beginning of a new chapter in the building’s history in 1868.  

The earlier church was much enlarged and embellished with entrances at both ends and staircases to sloping galleries.   The pulpit would have been in the centre where the hot air led in from a stove just behind in a newly built lean-to.   The minister at least was warm while he preached to the huge congregation that attended services at this, the main Kirk for the 30-mile-long parish of Dull, at that time.   The Kirk closed in the 1970s when the congregation fell to single figures.

New work to strap out and plaster the west end has revealed a record of the men who worked here 130 years ago.  Written in pencil is: “John Campbell, Crachin, Appin of Dull, by Aberfeldy – strapped and lathed this apartment on the ? May 1868.”   Another part reads: “John McGreggor, Fortingall”.   The third name is “J? Menzies, May 29th 1868” and underneath the word ‘too’ is legible as is the word ‘contract’.  A couple of other possible signatures or just comments are too faint too read but the joke seems to lie with the head drawn alongside, complete with glengarry, which has received hammer blows - making one think that this is a mischievous image of one of the men. 

Are there any descendants of these tradesmen still working in the area?