Rescue of historic church is marked 27/4/14
The rescue of one of the most important mediaeval buildings in the Western Isles was marked by a ceremony on Saturday.
The ancient St Columba’ Church -
The ancient chapel was dedicated to Celtic saint St Columba who brought Christianity to Scotland.
As one of the best preserved pre-
Nineteen Clan Macleod chiefs are buried in the surrounding cemetery. So to was William Mackenzie, the 5th Earl of Seaforth, but it is believed his remains were swept away by the pounding sea.
Lieutenant John Morrison who served with Nelson at the Battle of Cape Trafalgar in 1805 is also buried there.
An intricately carving of a knight in mail armour on one saved grave slab pays homage to Roderick, 7th Chief of the Macleods who died in 1498 while a cross of foliage and animals is depicted on another slab.
The church was an active Episcopalian chapel until a new place of worship was built nearby in 1829.
Scottish Presbyterianism then became the dominant faith in Lewis and the old church was left to decay.
In recent years, sea defences were built to try and halt the waves eroding the ground under the ruins.
Major renovations of the church’s stonework costing £324,000 are complete and the building which was closed for years is now open to the public.
Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie of the Urras Eaglais na h-
“There has been a Christian presence here since the sixth century when Saint Catan had his cell
“An enormous amount of history of the island is attached to it.”
Rev Iain D Campbell performed a rededication ceremony on Saturday.