{{Short description|Chapel in the Highlands of Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|right|Keills Chapel '''Keills Chapel''' is a small chapel located in the west Highlands, Scotland, near the village of Tayvallich, Knapdale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst9780.html|title=Keills Chapel: Overview|work=Gazetteer for Scotland|accessdate=27 December 2017}}</ref>
The chapel dates from the 11th century and is in the care of Historic Scotland<ref name="HES">{{cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/keills-chapel-and-cross/|title=Keills Chapel and Cross|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=27 December 2017}}</ref> as is Kilmory Knap Chapel on the opposite shore of Loch Sween. It is open at all reasonable times and there is no entrance charge.
==Keills Chapel== The name originates from the word {{lang|gv|keeill}}, meaning ''chapel''. The re-roofed structure contains an important collection of early stone sculpture, including six early Christian cross-slabs, around forty late medieval grave slabs recovered from the chapel or churchyard, and a Celtic cross which previously stood outside the chapel where a modern blank replacement now stands.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cowie|first=T. G.|year=2010|title=Excavation of the Cross Base at Keills Chapel, Knapdale, Argyll|journal=Glasgow Archaeological Journal|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|volume=7|issue=7|page=106|doi=10.3366/gas.1980.7.7.106|url=http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/pdfplus/10.3366/gas.1980.7.7.106|url-access=subscription|accessdate=27 December 2017}}</ref> The original has been moved inside the chapel to protect it from the elements.
==Keills Cross== The complete and well-preserved late 8th-early 9th century cross<ref name="HES"/> 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 St. Michael standing over a serpent (a symbol of triumph over the devil). The lower limb shows Christ on the Judgement Seat. He is holding a book, possibly the Bible or New 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.
==Images== <gallery> File:Kiells-Chapel,-Graveyard---By-HypeNapungra.jpg|A view from the graveyard File:InsideKiellsChapel-ByHypeNapungra.jpg|Inside Keills Chapel File:CrossInsideKeillsChapel-ByHypeNapungra.jpg|Keills Chapel Cross File:Carved gravestones at Keills Chapel - geograph.org.uk - 407514.jpg|Grave slabs in Keills Chapel </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Keills Chapel}}
{{coord|55|57|42.79|N|5|42|7.47|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Category:Churches in Argyll and Bute Category:Historic Environment Scotland properties in Argyll and Bute Category:Knapdale