Teampall Mholuaidh

Teampall Mholuaidh (St Moluag's Church)
Teampall Mholuaidh, 13th Century temple in the village of Eoropie
Denomination	Episcopalian
History
Dedication	St Moluag

The church's interior

St Moluag's church (Scottish Gaelic: Teampall Mholuaidh) is a 13th Century temple in the village of Eoropie in Ness in the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.

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. There are ruins of another temple 'Teampall Ronaidh' about 500m north east of Teampall Mholuaidh and remains of another temple 'Teampall Pheadair' are about 2km south west of Teampall Mholuaidh beside the old graveyard near the village of Swainbost.

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

References

1 2 "St Moluag's Church". Mysterious Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 2009-08-30.

Lewis and Harris

Outer Hebrides Scotland

Inhabited islands	Lewis and Harris Great Bernera Scalpay

Other islands	Bayble Island Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chearstaidh Eilean Liubhaird Eilean Mhealasta Ensay Fuaigh Beag Fuaigh Mòr Hermetray Killegray North Rona Pabbay of Harris Pabaigh Mòr Scarp Seaforth Sgeotasaigh Soay Beag Soay Mòr Stockinish Sula Sgeir Taransay Vacsay

Settlements	Stornoway Adabroc Aignish Aird Ardroil Arnol Baile an Truiseil Balallan Barvas Bayble Borghastan Borsham Borve, Harris Borve, Lewis Bragar Branahuie Breaclete Breasclete Breibhig Brenish Brue Cabharstadh Calbost Callanish Carloway Coll Fivepenny Flesherin Garenin Garrabost Gravir Gress Habost Holm Hushinish Leurbost Leverburgh Lionel Lingerbay Marybank Melbost New Tolsta Newmarket Newvalley Ohagro Parkend Portnaguran Portvoller Rèinigeadal Rodel Shawbost Skigersta Shulishader Tarbert Tolsta Chaolais Timsgarry Tong

Districts	Back Ness North Lochs Park Point Uig West Side

Geographical features	Butt of Lewis Clisham The Minch Eilean Glas

Historical sites	Callanish Stones Clach an Trushal and Steinacleit Dun Carloway Dùn Èistean Lews Castle St Clement's Church Teampull Mholuaidh

Coordinates: 58°30′15″N 6°15′33″W / 58.50417°N 6.25917°W / 58.50417; -6.25917

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