The Stained Glass Windows  of Kingairloch Church

The stained glass windows in Kingairloch church were designed and executed by Ballantine’s of Edinburgh. Alexander Ballantine succeeded his father James who had been born in Edinburgh in 1806 and who began his own career as a lowly painter and decorator. It is not known where he learned the art of stained glass but he started his Stained Glass firm in 1837 at the age of 29. Father and son were well known for their ability to actually make the glass transmit the light through their windows with glorious colouring and wonderful figure composition.

It was James Ballantine and his son Alexander Jr who were  the architects of ‘our’ windows - some of their finest examples, tucked away well off the beaten track down by the shore at Kingairloch. The subject matter of the apostle fishermen pulling on their nets and Jesus calming the seas seem very apt as we listen to the gales & sea battering the wee white church with its little bell tower. Jesus the Shepherd, The friend of Little Children, At the Last Supper and Knocking at the door complete the set. Others by Ballantine can be found the length and breadth of Scotland, but for me - our half dozen works of wonderful glass art merit a special accolade.

Jean J Campbell

Glass Artist