Historic former chapel for sale in secluded Argyll location

A former chapel set in the woods of Argyll makes for a peaceful retreat, which is now on the market.

Chapel Cottage, Glendaruel, on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll has a history that encompasses royalty, religion, love, scandal and tragedy.

It is a remarkable building. Dating from 1912, it is set high in the woods above the Clachan of Glendaruel and was built as a tiny church for just one person to worship.

Picture: Robb Residential

She was an Italian opera singer, Guilia Ravogli, who became famous at the end of the 19th century, singing with her sister Sophia.

Her relationship with a celebrated but married surgeon, William Harrison Cripps, caused a scandal.

When his wife committed suicide, Guilia and Cripps married and, possibly due to society’s reaction, spent much of the rest of their lives at his country home, Glendaruel House.

Picture: Robb Residential

Cripps is reputed to have removed Edward VII’s appendix and was a very well-regarded pioneer in abdominal cancer treatment, so the scandal also probably cost him a knighthood.

Because there was no Catholic church in the area, Cripps built the chapel, named St Sophia’s, above the estate for Guilia’s benefit.

It is in a Gothic revivalist style, which may have been influenced by Cripps’ time at Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford, which he is known to have rented.

Picture: Robb Residential

Anne Ferguson’s parents bought Chapel Cottage 41 years ago, when it had already been turned from a place of worship into a residence, but she says that although they carried out the work, the previous owners never lived in it.

“It wasn’t changed very much, a small extension was built on the side to house a bathroom and the vestry became the kitchen, but apart from that, it remains the same.”

Her parents were based in Glasgow and used the cottage as a holiday home and a retreat for her father to paint, while Anne, then a student at Glasgow School of Art, used to bring groups of friends up for the weekend.

She says: “It is a great place for a party, we really enjoyed weekends spent here.” She graduated in textiles, but since 2003 has specialised in stained glass and says that the chapel had an influence.

Picture: Robb Residential

“The stained glass in the cottage is beautiful, she says. “We haven’t been able to trace who it is by definitively, but it is very similar to examples found in Mount Stuart on Bute by Nathaniel Westlake.”

Westlake’s work features in the Victorian and Albert museum in London and in Arundel Cathedral.

Picture: Robb Residential

Aside from the kitchen and the bathroom, the accommodation is in one large room with pointed ecclesiastical windows, exposed roof timbers and trusses set on stone corbels, exposed natural stone walls and pitch pine flooring.

Picture: Robb Residential

The raised dais in the curved Eastern side of the building is the sleeping area. The house has storage heaters and a wood burning stove which warms the main room.

Picture: Robb Residential

There are beautiful views from the picture window and the garden of the cottage, down to the glen below and the house is surrounded by ancient woodland.

It is approached on a steep 400-yard path, accessible by four wheel drive, from the quiet West Glen single track road, which forms part of the long distance footpath, The Cowal Way, but only localsknow of the cottage’s existence so it is a really quiet spot in the woods.

Picture: Robb Residential

In the garden are two graves, that of Cripps and his daughter.

After his death in 1923, Guilia returned to Italy and is buried there although her nephew visited the spot some years ago, keen to research his aunt’s life.

Glendaruel House was destroyed by fire in 1970.

Picture: Robb Residential

Encircled by steel railings the garden is a fifth of an acre and includes a wood store and cellar.

The stone pathway is flanked by lawns with tall evergreens, hardwood trees, rhododendrons, ferns, shrubs and bushes.

Anne hasn’t altered the cottage substantially, aside from replacing the flat roof of the extension six years ago.

With so many gothic features the decor has been kept neutral to let the dramatic interior speak for itself.

Picture: Robb Residential

She still uses the cottage to work in, and each September has opened it as part of Cowal Open Studios to showcase her art.

Chapel Cottage is a pretty place, with a fascinating history. It will be interesting tosee who takes it on next.

Chapel Cottage is on the market for offers over £115,000 with Robb Residential.