AHARACLE, or Acharacle, a quoad sacra parish,
in the parish of Ardnamurchan, partly in the district
and county of Argyll, and partly in the county of
Inverness; containing '2016 inhabitants. It is about
twenty-four miles in extreme length and ten in breadth;
is formed, for the most part, of the eastern portion of
Ardnamurchan; and includes the islands of Shonaveg,
Portavata, and Shona. The district is in the presbytery
of Mull and synod of Argyll; the stipend of the minister
is £120, subject to a deduction for communion elements,
and there is a manse, with a glebe valued at £'2. 10. per
annum. The church, which stands at the west end of
Loch Shiel, and about four miles distant from the nearest
boundary of the district (the Western Ocean), was built
in 1829, and contains 270 sittings. Another place of
worship connected with the Establishment, is distant
from the parochial church about eleven miles. A great
portion of the population are Roman Catholics. A
school has been built by Sir James M. Riddell, Bart.,
and endowed by government.