Alternative Names Chapel Of Ui Or Eye; St Columba's Church, Aiginish, Uidh; Old Kirk Of Eye; Eye Church; Aignish Church; Eaglais Na H-Aoidhe
Site type CHURCH, GRAVE SLAB(S)
Canmore ID 4308
Site Number NB43SE 5
NGR NB 48469 32260
Council WESTERN ISLES
Parish STORNOWAY
Former Region WESTERN ISLES ISLANDS AREA
Former District WESTERN ISLES
Former County ROSS AND CROMARTY

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Recording Your Heritage Online

Church of St. Columba, Eye (Eaglais Chaluim Chille or Eaglais na h-Aoidhe/Uidh) 14 th century with 16th century enlargements Roughly coursed rubble ruin of what was once Lewis's foremost parish church, built on an earlier religious site said to have been founded by Columba's contemporary, St. Catan, and last used for worship in 1829. Under serious threat from coastal erosion, it has recently been consolidated. The original entrance in the middle of the south wall has at some time been blocked-up. Later enlargements included raising the unlit north wall and adding a chapel/burial aisle with tomb recess on the west gable. In the chancel - burial place of the Macleods of Lewis, formerly divided from the nave by a timber screen with loft above - two important graveslabs of c.1500 stand against the walls. Carved in hornblende schist, one depicts a knight with pointed helmet, said to be Roderick, 7th Chief (d. c.14 98), the other, with an inscription to his daughter Margaret Mackinnon (d.1503), an interlaced cross decorated with animals and foilage.



Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

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Archaeological Notes

NB43SE 5 48469 32260

(NB 4846 3225) Old Kirk of Eye (NR) (In Ruins)
OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1899)

Traditionally said to be on the site of a cell occupied by St Catan (6th or 7th century) and of a 'religious house'.
W C Mackenzie 1919.

Roofless, but with walls complete, though in 1921 the W side was threatened by encroachment of the sea.
Originally a simple oblong, 61 3/4ft x 16 3/4ft within walls 2ft 8 ins to 3ft 5 ins thick, probably built in 14th century. In late 15th or early 16th century an addition 23ft x 16 1/4ft was made to the W end and the western gable partly reconstructed. Dedictated to St. Columba (M Martin 1934).
Two notable memorial slabs affixed to the walls: on the S Side, a high relief of a figure in the usual western style, evidently one of the Macleods of Lewis (17th century or earlier); on the N side a carved and inscribed slab to Margaret MacKinnon, daughter of Roderick Macleod and mother of John, the last Abbot of Iona. A third slab, with a single shallow cup 1 1/4 ins diameter cut in it, used to lie on the floor but could not be found in 1921.
RCAHMS 1928; M Martin 1934.

As described by RCAHMS
Visited by OS (A L F R) assistant archaeology officer 23 April 1964.

NB 485 322 A watching brief was undertaken as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent on the construction of temporary arch supports in part of the church. No archaeological levels were disturbed; existing floor surfaces were recorded, including a fragment of sculptured stonework or graveslab.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
C Knott 2000

NB 484 322 A general site assessment was undertaken, reviewing historical source material and evaluating the standing fabric of the ruined church (NMRS NB43SE 5) in advance of conservation works and coastal protection. A reassessment of the phasing of the church is presented whereby the chancel area is felt to represent the earliest surviving fabric, perhaps of the late 14th century. This was subsequently extended (nave walls) and the E gable rebuilt. The final phase represents the reconstruction of the W end and the addition of a substantial burial aisle, perhaps in the later 16th century.
Sponsor: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
T Addyman 2000.

NB 484 322 Investigation of the wall heads of the ruin (NB43SE 5) was undertaken in October 2002 in order to identify any surviving evidence for the form of early roof structures in advance of possible reinstatement.
Turf was removed from the wall head at the NE corner of the main body of the church, revealing five sockets within the wall head masonry demonstrating the position of roof trusses at 0.75m intervals. Timber impressions survived to demonstrate that these had been roughly dressed and some 14-17cm in section. The lower ends of the rafters had been held in place by an ashlar-piece/sole-piece assembly. The easternmost rafter was embedded within the wall head of the E gable. The latter had apparently been detailed with flat skews and projecting skew-putts. This was considered to represent evidence for the last surviving roof structure over the main body of the church, which was itself not the original structure.
The junction with the existing W aisle roof was also examined. The internal cross wall dividing the two chambers relates to the construction of the W aisle, and some provision must have been made for the drop in level between the main roof to the E and the lower secondary roof structure to the W. In the 19th century, as the church became progressively derelict, the roof of the central part of the church was lost and its former junction with the W aisle roof structure (which was retained) was modified by a lowering of the wall head and the addition of new skews, the lowest skew still remaining in situ on either side. On the N side a few West Highland type slates also remain in place.
The W aisle roof structure differed in detail to that to the E, in that horizontal sockets at the upper internal wall heads showed that the roof had had wall plates on either side to which had presumably been affixed an ashlar-piece/sole-piece assembly. With a probable high collar it is possible that this chamber's roof structure had originally been lined with boards and painted.
Archive to be deposited in Western Isles SMR and the NMRS.
Sponsor: Urras Eaglais na h-Aoidhe (Uidh Church Trust).
T Addyman 2002

This chapel site was included in a research project to identify the chapel sites of Lewis and surrounding islands. The Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites survey recorded 37 such sites.
R Barrowman 2005

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Architectural Notes

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

Scottish Record Office
Building of new churches at Eye and Ness.
The one at Eye is to be built on the site of the delapidated chapel there.
Decision by the Commissioners for Highland Churches.
1825 GD 46/17/68

Notes and Activities

8 April 2008 to 9 April 2008

EXCAVATION

Notes NB 4846 3225 In advance of the erection of a new gate at the entrance to the burial ground at Aoidhe church an excavation was undertaken on 8–9 April 2008 of the ground to be disturbed by the gate. The work located a possible occupation layer in the form of midden material including hand-made pottery at a depth of 0.75m below the present ground surface. The layers above this, which included iron slag of a possible medieval date, had been severely damaged by large concrete blocks inserted to support a previous gate.
Report: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Funder: HAIP, Archaeology Service, Achmore Old School, Achmore, Isle of Lewis
Catherine Dagg, 2008

Further details

Books and References

Addyman, T (2000v) 'Eye Church, Stornoway, Western Isles (Stornoway pairsh), medieval church and churchyard', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.1
Page(s): 101

Addyman, T (2002) 'Eaglais na h-Aoidhe, Western Isles (Stornoway parish), late medieval church', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.3
Page(s): 123

Barrowman, R C (2005a) 'Lewis Coastal Chapel Sites, Western Isles (various parishes), survey', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.6
Page(s): 143

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