This is a list of churches in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. These islands are also officially known as Na h-Eileanan Siar since the implementation of the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997.
Since the Reformation the residents of the northern islands (Lewis, Harris, North Uist) have been predominantly Presbyterian, and those of the southern islands (Benbecula, South Uist, Barra) predominantly Roman Catholic.Clegg, E.J. "Fertility and Development in the Outer Hebrides; The Confounding Effcets of Religion" in Malhotra (1992) p. 88 At the time of the 2001 Census, 42% of the population identified themselves as being affiliated with the Church of Scotland, with 13% Roman Catholic and 28% with other Christian churches. Many of this last group belong to the Free Church of Scotland.Pacione, Michael (2005) "The Geography of Religious Affiliation in Scotland". The Professional Geographer 57(2). Oxford. Blackwell. There are also small Episcopalian congregations in Lewis and Harris.
The eight historic civil parishes of the area, by which this list is ordered, are: Barvas, Stornoway, Uig, Lochs, Harris, North Uist, South Uist and Barra.
Active churches
The council area has an estimated 92 active churches for 26,900 inhabitants, a ratio of one church to every 292 people. This is the lowest anywhere in Scotland or the United Kingdom, partially due to the remoteness of settlements and partly to the proliferation of denominations. An even lower ratio is found on the island of North Uist, where there are 10 churches for only 1,254 inhabitants.
NameImageParish (settlement)WebFoundedDenominationNotesBarvas Parish ChurchBarvasMedieval?Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. New building 1874 vacated 1924. Current building was previously United Free Church, built c. 1910Cross Ness Church of ScotlandBarvas (Cross)1828Church of ScotlandGaelic only. First CoS church planted from Barvas church 1828, closed 1905, demolished 1949. Current building 1909 was United Free Church, separated from Cross Free Church, rejoined CoS 1929.Teampall MholuaidhBarvas (Eoropie)MedievalEpiscopal ChurchDedicated to St MoluagBarvas Free ChurchBarvas (Borve)1843Free ChurchBuilding 1850Shawbost Free ChurchBarvas (Shawbost)1893Free ChurchFormed from Carloway Free ChurchCross Free ChurchBarvas (Cross)1843Free ChurchWorshipped in South Dell building from 1846. Current building 1892Shawbost Free Church (Continuing)Barvas (Shawbost)Free Church (Cont)Ness Free Church (Continuing)Barvas (North Dell)2000Free Church (Cont)Building 2003-2004Ness Free Presbyterian ChurchBarvas (Ness)Free PresbyterianLochs-Crossbost Parish ChurchLochs (Liurbost)1724Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Rebuilt 1796. Whole congregation left to found Crossbost Free Church in 1843 Kinloch Parish ChurchLochs (Kinloch)Church of ScotlandGaelic onlyLochs-Crossbost Free ChurchLochs (Crossbost)1843Free ChurchPairc Free ChurchLochs (Gravir)1879Free ChurchBuilding 1882Kinloch Free ChurchLochs (Laxay)1885Free ChurchUig Parish ChurchUig (Miavaig)Church of ScotlandGaelic only. Linked with Lochs-in-BerneraCarloway Parish ChurchUig (Carloway)Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Building 1908Lochs-in-Bernera Parish ChurchUig (Breaclete)1880Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. On island of Great Bernera. Linked with UigCallanish Free ChurchUig (Callanish)Free ChurchCarloway Free ChurchUig (Carloway)1844Free ChurchBuilding 1884Uig Free Presbyterian ChurchUig (Miavaig)1929Free PresbyterianSt Columba's Parish Church, StornowayStornoway1794Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Dedicated to St ColumbaMartin's Memorial Church, StornowayStornoway1876-78Church of ScotlandFormerly a Free Church and United Free Church (the United Free English). Named after first minister, Donald MartinStornoway High Church of ScotlandStornoway1909Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. United Free Church until 1929. The continuing members of Stornoway High Church in 2013 (see below)Knock Parish ChurchStornoway (Garrabost)Church of ScotlandGaelic onlySt Peter's, StornowayStornoway1838Episcopal ChurchDedicated to St Peter. Previously an Episcopal church in the town from 1630 to 1660Our Holy Redeemer, StornowayStornoway1961Roman CatholicBuilding 1990Stornoway Free ChurchStornoway1844Free ChurchFounded as the Gaelic Free Church, Stornoway. Building 1845, rebuilt 1850Free Church SeminaryStornoway1858Free ChurchServices held. Rebuilt 1900High Free Church, StornowayStornoway2013Free ChurchSplit from High Church of Scotland 2013 over admission of gay clergyKnock Free ChurchStornoway (Garrabost)1843Free ChurchUnited with Point Free Church 2017Point Free ChurchStornoway (Garrabost)Free ChurchUnited with Knock Free Church 2017Back Free ChurchStornoway (Back)c. 1859Free ChurchNorth Tolsta Free ChurchStornoway (North Tolsta)Free ChurchTong Free ChurchStornoway (Tong)Free ChurchStornoway Free Church (Continuing)Stornoway2000Free Church (Cont)Building 2004Knock & Point Free Church (Continuing)Stornoway (Point)2000Free Church (Cont)Building 2012Stornoway Free Presbyterian ChurchStornoway1895Free PresbyterianNorth Tolsta Free Presbyterian ChurchStornoway (North Tolsta)Free PresbyterianStornoway Associated Presbyterian ChurchStornoway1989Associated PresbyterianBuilding 1995Stornoway Reformed Presbyterian ChurchStornowayReformed PresbyterianStornoway Baptist ChurchStornowayIndependentStornoway Brethren MeetingStornoway1952BrethrenStornoway Salvation ArmyStornoway1983Salvation ArmyBuilding 1986New Wine Church, StornowayStornowayNew WineManish-Scarista Church of ScotlandHarris1838-40Church of ScotlandMaintains three buildings in Manish, Scarista and LeverburghTarbert Parish ChurchHarris (Tarbert)Church of ScotlandGaelic onlyBerneray Parish ChurchHarris (Berneray)1887Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Linked with Lochmaddy. Built as United Free, joined Church of Scotland (nearby older CoS church now in ruins)Christ Church, Isle of HarrisHarris (Grosecleit)Episcopal ChurchDedicated to JesusHarris Catholic MeetingHarris (Grosecleit)Roman CatholicUses Christ Church Episcopal. Served from StornowayHarris Free ChurchHarris (Leverburgh)1843Free ChurchMinister joined United Free Church 1900, cause vacant 1900-1923North Harris Free ChurchHarris (Tarbert)2014Free ChurchSplit from Tarbert CoS 2014 over CoS admission of gay clergyScalpay Free ChurchHarris (Scalpay)Free ChurchMeets in the local Church of Scotland building.Harris Free Church (Continuing)Harris (Northton)Free Church (Cont)Scalpay Free Church (Continuing)Harris (Scalpay)2000Free Church (Cont)South Harris Free Presbyterian ChurchHarris (Leverburgh)Free PresbyterianNorth Harris Free Presbyterian ChurchHarris (Tarbert)Free PresbyterianAlso meet in Stockinish, HarrisScarista Associated Presbyterian ChurchHarris (Scarista)Associated PresbyterianMeets in the Church of Scotland buildingLochmaddy Parish ChurchNorth Uist (Lochmaddy)Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Linked with BernerayKilmuir & Paible Parish ChurchNorth Uist (Kilmuir)1892-94Church of ScotlandGaelic only. Originally North Uist Parish ChurchCarinish Parish ChurchNorth Uist (Clachan)1889Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Linked with Benbecula. Worship was regularly held in the smaller church of Carinish until c. 2006. Previously Free Church then United Free until 1929Sollas Parish ChurchNorth Uist (Sollas)Church of ScotlandSt Brendan the Navigator, North UistNorth Uist (Balmartin)Episcopal ChurchDedicated to St BrendanChapel of the Holy Cross, North UistN Uist (Claddach Kirkibost)Episcopal ChurchDedicated to the Holy CrossNorth Uist Catholic MeetingNorth Uist (Lochmaddy)Roman CatholicMonthly in Lochmaddy community hall. Served from BenbeculaN Uist, Grimsay & Berneray Free ChurchNorth Uist (Carinish)Free ChurchN Uist & Grimsay Free Church (Continuing)North Uist (Knockintorran)2000Free Church (Cont)North Uist Free Presbyterian ChurchNorth Uist (Sollas)1893Free PresbyterianAKA Bayhead FPCBenbecula Parish ChurchSouth Uist (Griminish)pre-C16thChurch of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Linked with Carinish. Original building Teampull Chaluimchille. Church at Muir of Aird 1707. United with UFC 1929 and uses Free Church building, built in 1886Daliburgh Parish ChurchSouth Uist (Daliburgh)1863Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Built as South Uist Free ChurchHowmore Parish ChurchSouth Uist (Howmore)1858Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Remains of 13th century church nearbyIochdar Parish ChurchSouth Uist (Iochdar)1889Church of ScotlandSt Michael, EriskaySouth Uist (Eriskay)1903Roman CatholicDedicated to St MichaelSt Mary, BenbeculaSouth Uist (Griminish)Roman CatholicDedicated to St MarySt Michael, ArdkennethSouth Uist (Ardkenneth)1829Roman CatholicDedicated to St Michael. Earlier medieval church nearby, which was parish church for northern South Uist and Benbecula, abandoned 1827St Mary, BornishSouth Uist (Bornish)1837Roman CatholicDedicated to St MarySt Peter, DaliburghSouth Uist (Daliburgh)1868Roman CatholicDedicated to St PeterOur Lady of Sorrows, GarrynamonieSouth Uist (Garrynamonie)pre-1964Roman CatholicServed from Daliburgh. Dedicated to St Mary. Current building 1964-1965St Bride, GerinishSouth Uist (Gerinish)1966Roman CatholicChapel of ease to Ardkenneth. Dedicated to St Brigid of KildareSt Joseph, HowbegSouth Uist (Howbeg)1902Roman CatholicPart of Bornish parish but served from Ardkenneth. Dedicated to St JosephSouth Uist & Benbecula Free ChurchSouth Uist (Balivanich)Free ChurchCovers Benbecula and South Uist. Also meets in Lochboisdale on South UistBarra Parish ChurchBarra (Cuithir)1829-1834Church of ScotlandGaelic spoken. Congregation predates building. Previously worshipped in medieval St Barr's Church, Eoligarry.Our Lady Star Of The Sea, CastlebayBarra (Castlebay)1888Roman CatholicDedicated to St MarySt Brendan, CraigstonBarra (Borve)1805Roman CatholicServed from Castlebay. Dedicated to St Brendan. Rebuilt 1857. May be much olderSt Vincent de Paul, EoligarryBarra (Eoligarry)1964Roman CatholicServed from Castlebay. Dedicated to St Vincent de PaulSt Barr, NorthbayBarra (Bayherivagh)1906Roman CatholicServed from Castlebay. Dedicated to St BarrOur Lady of the Waves & St John, VatersayBarra (Vatersay)1913Roman CatholicServed from Castlebay. Dedicated to SS Mary & John
Defunct churches NameImageSettlementWebFoundedDenominationNotesBaile na Cille ChurchUigMedievalChurch of ScotlandPrevious churches in the parish; church built 1724. Rebuilt 1828. Congregation and minister joined the Free Church 1843. United with Ceann Langabhat (previously United Free) in 1979. Closed 2002 and services held at the other Uig church (see above)St Clement's ChurchHarris (Rodel)MedievalNo longer used for services (Historic Scotland). Dedicated to St ClementTeampull na TrionaidNorth UistMedievalRuined. Dedicated to the TrinityTeampull ChaluimchilleSouth Uist (Balivanich)MedievalRuined
See also Religion in the Outer Hebrides
Citations
References Malhotra, R. (1992) Anthropology of Development: Commemoration Volume in Honour of Professor I.P. Singh. New Delhi. Mittal.
External links