Canna Rhu Church stands on a small hill overlooking the eastern bay, set apart from the harbour buildings and homes. It was completed in 1914, built as a Catholic place of worship for the island’s residents and crewed visitors. Though modest in scale, it was carefully designed and has been maintained with quiet purpose over the years.

The church was commissioned by the Thom family and later restored with support from John Lorne Campbell, who lived on Canna from the 1930s and was closely involved in preserving the island’s cultural heritage. Built of stone and harled white, with a red corrugated roof and timber pews, the interior is simple and light. There is a small altar, stained glass windows added later in the century, and a bell that still rings across the bay on occasion.

Rhu Church is still used for occasional services and remains consecrated, though it is more often visited now as a historical site or quiet place to sit. The path leading to it is short and well-maintained, with views across to Sanday and the surrounding sea. From the threshold, it’s easy to see why this site was chosen—remote but open, exposed yet peaceful.

Unlike older ecclesiastical sites on the island, Rhu Church reflects 20th-century devotion rather than medieval monasticism. But its presence connects to the same themes found throughout Canna: isolation, continuity, and the importance of community gathering spaces, no matter how small.