St Moluag’s Church / Isle of Lewis ***

Region: Western Isles (Outer Hebrides)

In this region: <<<<<  >>>>>

Description:

St Moluag's Church (locally known by its Gaelic name of Teampull Mholuaidh) has stood in Eoropaidh since the 12th or 13th Century, possibly on the site of an older church. The church has a basic T shaped structure, with two small chapels on either side of the main body of the church. The southern chapel can only be accessed from outside.

There is a lot of speculation about its ancient origins: legend has it that St Moluag, a 6th Century Irish Saint and a contemporary of St Columba, built a chapel here in the 6th Century A.D. Another legend has it that later, St Ronan built a church on the site, but he found it difficult to live his quiet life of prayer here so he went instead to the Island of Rona, about 35 miles northeast of the Butt of Lewis.