Eynhallow Church facts for kids
The Eynhallow Church is an old, ruined church found on the small, empty island of Eynhallow in Orkney, Scotland. This church was built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! People think it might have started as a monastery, a place where monks lived and prayed. Near the church, you can also see the remains of a village from a later time. This special place was made a "scheduled monument" by Historic Environment Scotland in 1921, which means it's protected because of its history.
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What the Church Looks Like
The old Eynhallow Church stands on a hillside in the southwest part of Eynhallow island. This island is located between two other islands called Rousay and Mainland, Orkney. The church itself doesn't have a roof anymore. It's about 21 meters (69 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide. After the 12th century, the church was changed and used as a home starting in the 1500s.
Even though it's a ruin, you can still see many of the original parts of the church. The best-preserved parts are the walls of the entrance area (called the porch), the triangular upper parts of the walls (gables) in the main hall (nave), and the base of the walls in the altar area (chancel). Inside, the church has a rectangular main hall with an entrance porch at one end and a square-shaped chancel at the other. Some people think a tower might have been added later on top of the west porch. Pieces of carved red stone were also found nearby.
Southwest of the church, there are also remains of a village from the 1500s. This village has at least four houses that were built next to each other. These houses might have been built on top of even older buildings, possibly ones connected to the church. This village area is about 30 meters (98 feet) by 30 meters (98 feet) in size.
Usually, you can get to Eynhallow by private boat from Rousay or Mainland, Orkney. However, right now (as of January 2022), the site is closed to visitors because experts are checking the old stone walls to make sure they are safe.
A Look into the Past
Early Days of Eynhallow Church
We don't know a lot about the early history of Eynhallow Church. It might have been part of a monastery, possibly for Benedictine monks. We do know for sure that the church was built in the 12th century. The island's name, Eyin-Helha, means Holy Isle in Old Norse, which suggests Eynhallow was an important religious place long ago.
From Church to Home
By the 1500s, Eynhallow island, including its church or monastery, was no longer used for religious purposes. The church building was changed and used as a home. In 1851, there were four small houses left on the island. When the people living there got sick, possibly from bad water, they had to leave the island. When these houses were taken down, and a roof was removed from one of them, the old medieval church was discovered underneath!
Experts like T.S. Muir and Sir Henry Dryden later studied these ancient remains. In 1897, Professor T. Lethaby looked at the ruins even more closely. In 1911, the site was put under the care of the Office of Works, a government department. Eynhallow Church was officially protected as a "scheduled monument" by Historic Environment Scotland in 1921.
Myths and Legends
Eynhallow is also famous in Norse folklore. People used to say it was the home of the Finfolk, a mysterious group of mythical shapeshifters who could change their appearance.
The island is also mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga, an old story about the history of the Orkney and Shetland islands. This story tells how a boy named Olaf was taken from Eynhallow in 1155. Olaf was likely a student at the monastery there at the time.
Images for kids
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Eynhallow Church, view from the southeast.
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View from northwest. On the right the 12th century western porch.
