Cill Chriosd
Encyclopedia
Cill Chriosd is a ruined former parish church of Strathaird
, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland
. It was constructed around the 16th century, replacing an earlier Medieval church on the same location, and was used until 1840 when the Parish church was relocated to Broadford
. It lies on the B8083 Broadford to Torrin
and Elgol
road.
The church doorway, in the south wall, has splayed jamb
s and check and square sconsions. The south wall also has three windows, with check and inward splay; the east gable has a similar window, which is now built up. The insides measure 52 in 9 in (16.08 m) by 17 in 6 in (5.33 m). The side walls are 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 2 in 3 in (0.6858 m) deep, with the gables 2 in 10 in (0.8636 m) in thickness. The church is 30 degrees from due east-west, and has no openings in the north and west walls.
, including the cleared
villages of Boreraig
and Susinish.
The location is thought to have a heritage of Christian worship
dating back to the 7th century, when St Maelrubha preached from nearby Cnoc na-Aifhreann ("hill of the mass"). The original Parish church for Strath was located at Ashiag, and was founded by St Maol Ruadh in the 7th Century AD; the new parish church was relocated to this location in the later Middle Ages. The present ruined church probably replaced the first medieval stone church in the 16th century. Written records for the church date back to 1505, although the earliest records only give a list of the names of the ministers. In 1505 the chaplain Kenneth ("Kensoch") Adamson succeeded John MacGillebredison, before being replaced by John Johnson, and then John Ronaldson in 1508 after Johnson's death.
On 19 June 1627, Neil MacKinnon became the first Protestant minister of the church, however he "is remembered primarily for his meanness and his greed". During his appointment ceremony he 'gave his grite and solemn oath that he all treulie according to his knowledge, give up the Clerk of Councell the names of all the Papists he knew within the Isles'. It is recorded that he only allowed his workmen one meal on Sundays (rather than two, as for other days) as they were resting. However, one Sunday two hungry workmen waited until after MacKinnon had finished preaching and had left the church before setting to work with their foot plough
. Following this, the preacher allowed them two meals every day.
Cill Chriosd was replaced by a new parish church in Broadford
in 1840.
The churchyard also has an amorial stone, as well as a possible fragment of the necking and lower arms of a crude cross, with one side plane and the other side bearing two animals carved into a relief on the lower portion. The graveyard also contains a slab of slate with a foliated cross, with one side preserved but the other side worn away.
Strathaird
Strathaird is a peninsula on the island of Skye, Scotland, situated between Loch Slapin and Loch Scavaig on the south coast.Skye's shape defies description and W. H. Murray said that "Skye is sixty miles long, but what might be its breadth is beyond the ingenuity of man to state". Strathaird is...
, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was constructed around the 16th century, replacing an earlier Medieval church on the same location, and was used until 1840 when the Parish church was relocated to Broadford
Broadford
Broadford may refer to:Places*Broadford, County Clare, Republic of Ireland*Broadford, County Limerick, Republic of Ireland*Broadford, Skye, Scotland*Broadford, Pennsylvania, United States*Broadford, Victoria, Australia...
. It lies on the B8083 Broadford to Torrin
Torrin
Torrin is a small village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.-Geography:The crofting and fishing village lies on the eastern shore of Loch Slapin, 5 miles southwest of Broadford , on the road to Elgol . There is a mixture of Victorian white-washed cottages and modern flat-pack houses...
and Elgol
Elgol
Elgol is a village on the shores of Loch Scavaig towards the end of the Strathaird peninsula in the Isle of Skye, in the Scottish Highlands.-Name:...
road.
Layout
The ruins of the church lie at the top of a small mound, surrounded by the graveyard. It has been described by Miers as "The long, low, rubble ruin of the post- Reformation parish church of Strath has roughly dressed quoins and jambs, and a balustraded burial enclosure added to the east gable in the early 18th century for the Mackinnons."The church doorway, in the south wall, has splayed jamb
Door jamb
A doorjamb is the vertical portion of the frame onto which a door is secured. The jamb bears the weight of the door through its hinges, and most types of door latches and deadbolts extend into a recess in the doorjamb when engaged, making the "true" and strength of the doorjambs vitally important...
s and check and square sconsions. The south wall also has three windows, with check and inward splay; the east gable has a similar window, which is now built up. The insides measure 52 in 9 in (16.08 m) by 17 in 6 in (5.33 m). The side walls are 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 2 in 3 in (0.6858 m) deep, with the gables 2 in 10 in (0.8636 m) in thickness. The church is 30 degrees from due east-west, and has no openings in the north and west walls.
History
The church is the remains of the parish church of StrathairdStrathaird
Strathaird is a peninsula on the island of Skye, Scotland, situated between Loch Slapin and Loch Scavaig on the south coast.Skye's shape defies description and W. H. Murray said that "Skye is sixty miles long, but what might be its breadth is beyond the ingenuity of man to state". Strathaird is...
, including the cleared
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
villages of Boreraig
Boreraig
Boreraig is a deserted township in Strath Swordale on the north shore of Loch Eishort in the parish of Strath, Isle of Skye, Scotland.-History:...
and Susinish.
The location is thought to have a heritage of Christian worship
Christian worship
In Christianity, worship is adoration and contemplation of God.-Overview:Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns, with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, particularly the Psalter;...
dating back to the 7th century, when St Maelrubha preached from nearby Cnoc na-Aifhreann ("hill of the mass"). The original Parish church for Strath was located at Ashiag, and was founded by St Maol Ruadh in the 7th Century AD; the new parish church was relocated to this location in the later Middle Ages. The present ruined church probably replaced the first medieval stone church in the 16th century. Written records for the church date back to 1505, although the earliest records only give a list of the names of the ministers. In 1505 the chaplain Kenneth ("Kensoch") Adamson succeeded John MacGillebredison, before being replaced by John Johnson, and then John Ronaldson in 1508 after Johnson's death.
On 19 June 1627, Neil MacKinnon became the first Protestant minister of the church, however he "is remembered primarily for his meanness and his greed". During his appointment ceremony he 'gave his grite and solemn oath that he all treulie according to his knowledge, give up the Clerk of Councell the names of all the Papists he knew within the Isles'. It is recorded that he only allowed his workmen one meal on Sundays (rather than two, as for other days) as they were resting. However, one Sunday two hungry workmen waited until after MacKinnon had finished preaching and had left the church before setting to work with their foot plough
Foot plough
The foot plough is a type of spade used for cultivation, in the north west of Scotland. The Scottish Gaelic language contains many terms for the various varieties, e.g. cas-dhìreach for the straighter variety and on, but cas-chrom is the most common variety and refers to the crooked spade...
. Following this, the preacher allowed them two meals every day.
Cill Chriosd was replaced by a new parish church in Broadford
Broadford
Broadford may refer to:Places*Broadford, County Clare, Republic of Ireland*Broadford, County Limerick, Republic of Ireland*Broadford, Skye, Scotland*Broadford, Pennsylvania, United States*Broadford, Victoria, Australia...
in 1840.
Graveyard
Records from 1913 show that there were a pair of unusual gravemarkers in the graveyard - one dedicated to Chief Lachlan Mor and carrying "obscure hieroglyphics", the other possibly dating from the pre-Christian era. However, both have since vanished. Most graves are connected to Clan MacKinnon, and are from the 18th and 19th centuries. One memorial, in the inner wall of the burial enclosure, is for "Charles Third", who was apparently born in Corry near Broadford as a MacKinnon but later died in Australia after emigrating. A worn medieval slab carved with an ornate cross is located in the south corner of the graveyard.The churchyard also has an amorial stone, as well as a possible fragment of the necking and lower arms of a crude cross, with one side plane and the other side bearing two animals carved into a relief on the lower portion. The graveyard also contains a slab of slate with a foliated cross, with one side preserved but the other side worn away.