To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Learn more

Our Lady of the Sea statue, Barra

You are here: Home > See and Do > Gaelic Culture > Religion and Spirituality

Religion and Spirituality

Since the introduction of Christianity in the Outer Hebrides around 600AD, religion has been a cornerstone of life in the Western Isles.

Religion on Lewis, Harris and North Uist is predominantly Protestant while religion on Barra, Benbecula and South Uist is mainly Catholic (these Outer Hebrides islands featured in An Island Parish, the popular BBC TV series, which followed the fortunes of Western Isles priests and their congregations)

A number of historical religious sites in the Western Isles portray the history and heritage of Christianity in the Outer Hebrides. The remains of the first churches in the Western Isles can still be seen today; many of them dating back to medieval times.

ST CLEMENTS CHURCH, HARRIS

The largest medieval church in the Outer Hebrides is St Clements Church in Rodel, Harris. Although it was built in the 16th Century, some archaeologists believe that an older monastery existed on the same site. The church was restored in 1873 but was originally built by Alexander Macleod, 8th Chief of Harris and Dunvegan, whose stone-carved tomb can still be seen in the church today.

ST MOLUAGS CHURCH, LEWIS

In one of our most northerly villages, Eoropaidh in Lewis, you will find St Moluag’s Church which is a 12th century Temple, said to have been built by the son of a Scandinavian King, who had converted to Christianity. The building may have been altered up to the 16th century and was restored in 1911-12.

HOWMORE CHAPELS, SOUTH UIST

Further south in the archipelago is Howmore Chapels or Tobha Mòr, South Uist. We do not know when the first chapel was built at Tobha Mòr, but a stone slab incised with a outlined cross may suggest a Christian presence here before the 9th century.
Later, a series of chapels and parish churches were built, and the remains of four of them can be seen today. The earliest may be no earlier than c. 1200 AD, but their character is reminiscent of early Irish Celtic monastic sites.

PRESENT DAY

Western Isles Christianity is evident in almost all aspects of our Scottish island life. Sabbath Day observance in the Outer Hebrides is practised predominantly in the Presbyterian northern islands. As a result, Sunday closing in the northern islands mean that most shops and cafes are not open on Sundays. The southern islands will have some shops and cafes open but it also tends to be a quieter family day. On all islands there is no bus service on a Sunday, but hotels are open everywhere and you can get food and drink served.

More recently the Western Isles have seen diversity of religion emerging and in 2018 the first Western Isles Mosque was opened. Renovating a derelict building in the town centre of Stornoway, Lewis. The Mosque gave a place of worship for our Muslim community who first arrived on the islands in 1950s.

Plan your trip

Accommodation
What's On
See and Do
Food & Drink

FOLLOW OUTER HEBRIDES

Our Tourism Community

My Planner

You can build your own holiday itinerary here! Just browse our site and click this button to add to your itinerary when you see something you like. If your planner is not finished, simply click save and you can come back to it later on! You also have the option to send your itinerary to our tailor made holiday partner.

OHT Members Login

Religion and Spirituality

Refine By

Refine Your Search Further:

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

Telephone

Address

My Planner

Accommodation

Places to Eat

Our Islands

See and Do

Plan Your Trip