The Graveyard

In the same way that the Church at Ui was once a focal point of worship for all of the communities in the Isle of Lewis, so also was its graveyard for the burial of their dead.

Many of the oldest graveslabs lie close to the Church and are recumbent (lying flat).

Four graveslabs have been removed from the graveyard to the more protected environment in the West Chapel.  Most notable are two late medieval graveslabs one of which is a carved image of a clan chief and commemorates Roderick VII (Clan Macleod) who died in 1498.  Another intricately carved stone of knotwork and animals and foliage commemorates Roderick’s daughter Margaret Mackinnon who died in 1503.

Speculation has it that a number of chiefs of the Clan Macleod (18, 19 or 21 ?) are buried in the main Church beneath the Sword Stone. More information can be found  in the 2018 Colm Cille Lecture publication.

Much information about the local community can be gleaned from a walk around the graveyard and a look at the inscriptions on the gravestones.

All of the visible gravestones and slabs have been recorded in map and photographic form by Urras Eaglais na h-Aoidhe, as well as any inscriptions and markings.  A book – ‘Graveyard Records: Eaglais na h-Aoidhe’ has been produced by the Urras and can be purchased HERE from our shop at a cost of £5.00 + p&p.

In 2017 a geophysical survey of the graveyard was conducted by Rose Geophysical Consultants. The results of this can be read/downloaded (pdf file) via the black button.