St Columba's Church, Aiginis, Uidh

Heritage listing

Date Added 11/03/1954 Last Date Amended 06/03/1997 Supplementary Information Updated 31/07/2023 Type Crosses and carved stones: tombstone, Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; church Local Authority Na h-Eileanan Siar Planning Authority Na h-Eileanan Siar Parish Stornoway NGR NB 48468 32261 Coordinates 148468, 932261 — The monument comprises the remains of St Columba's church. According to local tradition, the church of St Columba occupies the site of a cell of St Catan, who lived in the sixth to seventh century. On architectural grounds, however, the present church appears to be no earlier than fourteenth century. Margaret, daughter of Ruairi, chief of the Macleods of Lewis, was buried in the chancel in 1503. In 1506, the rector was John Macleod and in 1534 and 1536 Sir Magnus Vaus. Martin Martin, in 1695, records the church's dedication as being to St Collum (or Columba); as one of the two parishes of Lewis, Uidh had a minister, though by this time the principal church would probably have been in Stornoway. St Columba's church is an elongated rectangle in plan, measuring some 20.5 by 7m overall and with its chancel facing north-east. It is built in rubble masonry, utilising the local gneiss, to which a red sandstone is added in later additions. A slight discernible difference in the construction of the eastern third, corresponding to the chancel area, probably represents different campaigns of work, rather than different periods; it may in any case be more apparent than real, being emphasised by the plaster which still adheres to much of the chancel walls. More certain is the evidence for the heightening or rebuilding of the upper part of the north wall, probably as part of a re-roofing operation. This may have occurred in the sixteenth century, and hav

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.