St Ciaran's Church, Lochs (Lewis)

Grid reference

NB 187 425 (general (1km))

Six-figure easting & northing

118700 942500

Latitude

58.281177460517

Longitude

-6.799625332886598

Nearby places

Cnoc Barbara, Stornoway (Lewis) (1.72 miles)

St Michael's Chapel, Uig (Little Bernera) (2.77 miles)

St Donnan's Chapel, Uig (Little Bernara) (2.77 miles)

St Macrel's Church, Uig (Bernera) (Lewis) (4.9 miles)

Leitir Eòin, Barvas (Lewis) (5.22 miles)

Object Classification

Ecclesiastical

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

Martin Martin records the church of 'St Kiaran in Liani-Shadir', which is probably an error for Laimishader (NB183424). In the vicinity is Beannachadh Ciaraig (NB187424), a small heap of stones at which 'the oldest inhabitants of the parish state ... as long as they can remember, it was customary for whoever passed the place to throw one or more stones on it' (OS Name Book, cited by Canmore NB14SE 3). A record by Normal Morrison from Caroloway preserved in the Maclagan Manuscripts in the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh, is recorded by Domhnall William Stiùbhart: 'It used ot be a custom, in dealing with certain diseases in Lewis, to bring the sufferer to the old church of St Ciaran, and after having made him walk three times round the church, observing to make his circuits in the direction of the sun - deiseil - he waas made to sleep over the night inside the churrch' (Stiùbhart, 'Popular Religion in Lewis, from the Middle Ages to our own time', unpublished lecture, 2014).

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/

Relationships with other parishes

Within Uig, parish (Lewis)