Eynhallow Church
Encyclopedia
Eynhallow Church is the ruin of a 12th century monastery
, located on Eynhallow
, one of the Orkney Islands
.
order. The church is built in the 12th century.
Because of the name of the isle it is likely that Eynhallow was an important religious centre. Eyin-Helha is Old Norse
for Holy Isle.
In the Orkneyinga Saga
the story of Olaf, son of Svein Asleifarson
and ward of Kolbein Hruga, is told, who was kidnapped from Eynhallow in 1155. Olaf was most likely sent to Eynhallow to be educated by the monks.
Eynhallow Church was deserted before the reformation
(circa 1560).
The church was converted into dwellings in the 16th century.
In 1851 the inhabitants of Eynhallow were transferred elsewhere, and the church and other buildings were stripped of their roofs..
The ruin was consolidated by W.R. Lethaby in 1897.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, located on Eynhallow
Eynhallow
Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island, part of the Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland.-Geography:Eynhallow lies in Eynhallow Sound between Mainland, Orkney and Rousay. It is in area....
, one of the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
.
History
The history of Eynhallow Church is mostly unknown. The church might have been part of a monastery, maybe of the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
order. The church is built in the 12th century.
Because of the name of the isle it is likely that Eynhallow was an important religious centre. Eyin-Helha is Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
for Holy Isle.
In the Orkneyinga Saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
the story of Olaf, son of Svein Asleifarson
Sweyn Asleifsson
Sweyn Asleifsson was twelfth century Viking who appeared in the Orkneyinga Saga.-Early career:Sweyn was born in Caithness in the early twelfth century, to Olaf Hrolfsson and his wife Åsleik. According to the Orkneyinga Saga, he came to prominence when he murdered Earl Paul of Orkney's cup-bearer c...
and ward of Kolbein Hruga, is told, who was kidnapped from Eynhallow in 1155. Olaf was most likely sent to Eynhallow to be educated by the monks.
Eynhallow Church was deserted before the reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
(circa 1560).
The church was converted into dwellings in the 16th century.
In 1851 the inhabitants of Eynhallow were transferred elsewhere, and the church and other buildings were stripped of their roofs..
The ruin was consolidated by W.R. Lethaby in 1897.
External links
- Historic Scotland, Eynhallow Church
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Eynhallow Monastery
- Orkneyjar, Eynhallow - The Holy Isle