Ardchattan is a parish in the region of Lorn, as the area is described before Argyll became a formal political county.
Lorn is divided into three areas, Upper Lorn, Mid Lorn, and Nether Lorn. From Loch Etive northwards is regarded as Upper Lorn, the land to the south of Loch Etive being Mid Lorn and the area to the northwest of Loch Awe, Loch Avich and Loch Melford forms Nether Lorn. It easy to think of Oban, Argyll as the centre of Lorn but it wasn't always so in the past.
At various times throughout Scottish history Lorn has been under the jurisdiction of the MacDonalds, Stewarts, Campbells, even now the eldest son of the Duke of Argyll holds the title Marquis of Lorn. The MacDougalls however, were the dominant force.
The origins of the name Lorn is not clear but it's thought that it's derived from the scots Gaelic for fox, Latharn, pronounced la-urn which is anglisised to Lorn. (Land of the foxes)1
The presbytery of Lorn comprehends the quoad civilia parishes of Ardchattan, Glenorchy, Kilbrandon, Kilchrenan, Kilmore, Kilninver, and Lismore, the quoad sacra parishes of Appin, Duror, Muckairn, Oban, and St Columba (Oban), and the chapelries of Kingairloch, Glencoe, Lochawe, Dalavich, and Connel Ferry.
The Free Church also has a presbytery of Lorn, with churches at Appin, Ardchattan, Glenorchy, Kilbrandon, Kilninver, Muckairn, and Oban, and a preaching station at Kilchrenan
The Boundaries are very indistinct and will likely have varied over the centuries depending on the major land ownership and conflicts between these.
Upper Lorn : defined as the area north of Loch Etive up to Loch Leven
Mid Lorn : South of Loch Etive but not including what is in Nether Lorn at the time. Does this include Oban (Kilbride and Kilmore at that time), Taynuilt (Muckairn), Kilchrenan & Dalavich - or is the latter in Nether Lorn ?
Nether Lorn : "part of Mid-Argyll which lies to the northwest of Loch Awe and the north of Lochs Avich and Melfort, together with those islands in the area where the Firth of Lorne widens between Jura and Mull, approximately 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Oban. In modern terms, Nether Lorn also includes the area to the south of Loch Melfort north of Loch Craignish, extending as far south as Kilmartin and Loch Crinan. The district is generally considered to include Scarba, Lunga, the Garvellachs and Shuna, together with the Slate Islands (Seil, Easdale, Luing, Belnahua). Nether Lorn has no natural northern boundary with Middle Lorn and the southern boundary with Knapdale is equally indistinct."2
Nether Lorn Churches in modern times include Craignish (Ardfern) Kilmelford Kilninver
Kilbrandon (Seil) Kilchattan (Luing) http://www.netherlornchurches.org.uk/
1809 Plan Of Part Of The Estate Of Nether Lorn, Argyll Breadalbane Langlands https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/nrs/RHP720/plan-part-estate-nether-lorn-argyll/nrs
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