There have been many alternate spellings, including "Dysert", "Disart", "Glenwrquha", "Glenvrquha", "Glenvrquhay", "Clachandysert", "Clachan Disert, "Claghan-Diseirt" and "Dysart and Glenurquhie".

[2][3] The old churchyard which surrounds the parish church contains some ancient gravestones of the clan, and the gallows-hill of Glenorchy is famed in Highland tradition as a place of execution.

Opposite the church is the Gallow Hill of Glenorchy, which is reputed in Highland tradition to have been the location of summary executions when the Macgregors controlled the region.

[8] The parish of Glenorchy lies between Perthshire to the east, and Lochawe and Loch Etive to the west.

[6] Although it was 15 miles (24 km) away, it was the closest church to Duncan Ban MacIntyre, the Scottish Gaelic poet.

[6] Also in the church's burial ground are late medieval grave slabs that are embellished with figures of armed warriors and emblematical devices that are said to have been brought from Inishail.