Timelines
The Earliest Church
Saint Catan ‘According to tradition, the church was built on the site of a cell occupied by St. Catan who is believed to have lived in the sixth or seventh century.’ These words were written in 1919 by W.C. Mackenzie. Catan was an early Irish churchman who became a...
The 14th Century
The Lordship of the Isles
During the 14th century most of the Hebrides, including Lewis, was brought together under a single lordship. Under John of Islay – styling himself Lord of the Isles – from 1354 this became a very powerful lordship, virtually independent of the Scottish Crown. The...
Clan Nicolson
Before the 14th century, Lewis had been held by the Clan Nicolson, who possibly had strongholds in Flesherin and Stornoway. The Nicolsons may also have been responsible for the building of an early church on the present day site of Eaglais na h-Aoidhe which is...
Macleods of Lewis
The Macleod dynasty, reputedly descended from Leod a Norseman, obtained possession of the whole of Lewis through marriage to a daughter of Torquil Nicolson. Torquil Macleod, a son from this marriage, probably died around 1380 and his descendants retained control of...
The 15th Century
15th Century layout of Ui Church
A new aisle or annexe was built, abutting the south wall of the Church, and entered from the Church by 2 inserted doorways. This was later removed leaving no trace, but the location of the doorways can still be seen. The annexe may have served as a burial aisle for the Macleod chiefs of Lewis.
The End of the Lordship of the Isles
Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, the Stewart kings of Scotland had sought to quell the independent power of the Lordship of the Isles. This was effectively achieved in 1493 when John Macdonald, 4th Lord of the Isles, was forfeited and his lands annexed. The...
The Last of the Macleods
Roderick Macleod X was chief of the Lewis Macleods from 1539 until 1595. His was a long and turbulent life – he had feuded with neighbouring interests across the Minch, with his own sons and, at times, with the Scottish Crown. He had married three times and produced...
Torquil VIII
Torquil succeeded his father Roderick as clan chief in 1498. He went on to support the rebellion of Donald Dubh, claimant to the Lordship of the Isles, against the Crown. Torquil was removed from his position following the defeat of the clan at the hands of a royal...
Margaret Mackinnon
Margaret Mackinnon was the daughter of Roderick Macleod she was married to Lachlan Mackinnon. Their son John became the last abbot of Iona. There is an intricately carved grave slab which commemorates her and which has the following inscription : ‘Hic jacet Margareta...
Roderick Macleod
7th chief of Macleod and a great-grandson of Torquil IV, held Lewis during the latter part of the 15th century. He died in 1498 and an effigy on a carved grave slab commemorates him. He is conventionally depicted as a warrior, with broadsword and spear, and dressed...
The Reformation and Post Reformation
The Fife Adventurers
The Gentleman Adventurers of Fife or Fife Adventurers were a group of 11 noblemen-colonists, largely from eastern Fife, awarded rights from King James VI to colonise the Isle of Lewis in 1598. With the collapse of the Macleod dynasty, James VI sold the ‘development...
The Reformation and Post Reformation
Before the Reformation in 1560, Eaglais na h-Aoidhe was a Catholic parish church. Its nave – where the laity gathered, was separated from the chancel and the altar at the east end where the Mass was celebrated, by a rood screen. After 1560, unlike many other churches...
The Mackenzies ~ Earls of Seaforth
The West Chapel
Evidence from an archaeological survey suggests that the West Chapel may date from the 17th century. It probably began as an extension to the main Church and was built by the Mackenzie chiefs, possibly to emphasise their recent ascendancy. The West Chapel continued...
The Mackenzies ~ Earls of Seaforth
In 1610 the king granted Lewis to Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail, who claimed the title partly through a daughter of Roderick X. He established a base at Seaforth Head, but it was not until 1613 that the last Macleod, Neil, was taken from his stronghold in Berisay to...
