- Teampull Mholuaidh
Parish church
name=Teampull Mholuaidh(St Moluag's Church)
caption=Teampull Mholuaidh, 13th Century temple in the village of Eoropie
dedication=St Moluag
denomination=Episcopalian
tradition= .
presbytery= .
minister= .
organist=
website= .St Moluag's church (locally known by its gaidhlig name ofTeampull Mholuaidh ) is a 13th Century temple in the village ofEoropie in Ness in the Isle of Lewis inScotland .The church has a basic T shaped structure, with two small chapels on either side of the main body of the church. The southern chapel can only be accessed from outside. There is a lot of speculation about the ancient origins of this place of worship; one tradition tells that
St Ronan founded the church, before retiring to the Isle of Rona (in legend travelling on the back of a whale).The church is now in use as a
Scottish Episcopal Church .History and Legend
The church is dedicated to the shadowy figure of
St Moluag . It has been suggested that the church was built by the son of a Scandinavian king, who had converted to Christianity.One of the most enduring traditions associated with the church is its power as a place of healing, especially for those afflicted with mental problems. Many people were brought here in the hope of healing, and even those who could not reach the church sent wooden effigies of their afflicted parts. Captain Dymes who came to Lewis in 1630 recorded that people who could not visit the church "were wont to cut out the portion of their lame arms or legs in wood with the form of their sores and wounds therof and send them to the saint where I have seen them lying on the altar of the chapel [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/majorsites/aa/st_moluags.html Mysterious Britain] ] .
Perhaps one of the most interesting stories and traditions associated with the church is its links with a god of the sea,
Seonaidh . If true the origins of this ceremony may be very old indeed, and may be a lost link with the practices of the pre-Christian islanders [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/majorsites/aa/st_moluags.html Mysterious Britain] ] .External links
* [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/majorsites/aa/st_moluags.html Mysterious Britain]
References
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