• A white church with stone window frames and a small bell tower, surrounded by green grass, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
  • White stone church with a red door, surrounded by a stone wall, green grass, and trees, under a blue sky with clouds.
  • A stone memorial plaque with an inscribed message honoring men of the parish of Ulva who gave their lives in World War I, from 1914 to 1919, with names listed below the message.
  • A memorial stone surrounded by grass and plants, with a plaque dedicated to Major Francis Clark and others who served in World War II, located on a field with a stone wall and greenery in the background.
  • A small white church on a hill surrounded by green trees and grass under a clear blue sky.

Ulva Church

  • Background

    Since Ulva came into community ownership in 2018, the charity has been progressing a wide range of work across the island. Early efforts focused on areas where action was most urgently needed — including residential property improvements and gradual upgrades to essential infrastructure such as the pier and water supply. As Ulva’s population grows, demand on infrastructure and services continues to increase, and this work is ongoing.

    As capacity has gradually been built, the charity is now able to turn attention to the next priority: one of Ulva’s most important historic buildings.

    Ulva Church sits at the heart of Ulva’s landscape and history. Designed by Thomas Telford, it is a Parliamentary church completed in 1828, and one of five such churches on Mull and Iona. Its story reflects both Ulva’s past and the way the island has adapted over time.

    As noted by the Mull Historical & Archaeological Society, much of the church was converted into a community hall in the mid-1950s, with alterations made to the building to support its continued use. While this allowed the church to remain part of island life, the building has faced long-term challenges around condition, maintenance and sustainability.

    Like many historic churches in remote locations, bringing Ulva Church back into meaningful use requires careful thought, community involvement and realistic planning.

    To support this, the charity published a three-year Ulva Church Development Plan in September 2025 (available to view under Documents). The plan sets out a phased, long-term approach to understanding the building, managing risk and exploring viable future uses.

    Mull Historical & Archaeological Society

  • The current project

    Building on the Ulva Church Development Plan, the charity is now undertaking a consultancy project to explore the future of Ulva Church. This work is being delivered by New Practice, with funding from Community Led Local Development (CLLD).

    The project brings together community consultation, professional assessment and early-stage design thinking to develop a clear proof of concept for the church. This includes understanding the building’s current condition, exploring potential future uses, and establishing an initial outline of development and repair costs. The aim at this stage is not to arrive at final designs or commit to construction, but to build a realistic, shared understanding of what might be possible and what would be required to take the project forward.

    Initial community engagement sessions took place in December, with online survey published in January (see our News page). The proof of concept is expected to be completed in mid- to late February 2026.

    New Practice

  • What happens next

    Once the proof of concept is complete and a clearer picture of costs and options has been established, this work will provide a baseline for future funding applications to support the next stages of the project.

    Ulva Church Development Plan
  • A small white church with tall, arched windows with lattice panes, a stone bell tower, and a grassy area with a stone monument in front, under a partly cloudy blue sky.
  • Small white church with a red door, stone wall in the foreground, surrounded by green trees and grass under a partly cloudy blue sky.
  • A stone memorial plaque dedicated to men of the parish of Ulva who served in the Great War, located outdoors amidst grass, moss, and other plants. The plaque lists names and is surrounded by rugged stonework.
  • A stone memorial with a pinkish granite plaque in the center, surrounded by grass and small plants, and a stone wall in the background. The plaque has engraved text honoring Major Francis Clark for his faithful service in World War II.
  • A white church with a gray roof situated atop a green hillside with trees, against a clear blue sky.

  • "I would love to see the church made structurally sound and brought back to life for the benefit of both the local community and visitors. It’s a building with deep roots and quiet dignity, and I believe a sympathetic restoration could help preserve that while giving it a renewed purpose. I’d be more than happy to be involved in any next steps to support this vision and help secure funding. A revitalised church could truly become a shared asset for the Isle of Ulva and beyond."

    —Ulva Resident

  • "It takes about 20 mins along a very muddy footpath to reach the church but it's a lovely little church. Designed by Thomas Telford and is quite rare in style, as most have been demolished. Well worth the short treck to find it!"

    —Scottish-Hidden-Gems on TripAdvisor

 

Support the Church

As with other projects on Ulva, work on the church is a long-term process, shaped by funding, capacity and the realities of island delivery.

Following harsh winters, the church has suffered serious damage and is now fully closed to the public due to health and safety concerns. The charity is entirely reliant on external financial support to undertake any repair or development work.

Any donations would be very gratefully received and will be used solely to support the future development of Ulva Church, helping the charity plan and progress the next stages of this important project.

Donate on Enthuse

An abandoned room with peeling ceiling paint and a large hole in the ceiling, scattered debris and paint chips on the wooden floor, a tipped-over metal bucket, and several chairs against the wall near a large arched window.
Enthuse logo with orange icon and black text
Ceiling with a large hole, chains hanging from the ceiling, adjacent to a stained glass window.
A room with overturned chairs, debris, and damage from a possible disaster, with a pink wall, radiator, and window in the background.