St Clement's Church, Rodel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Clement's Church, Rodel |
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| Native name Scottish Gaelic: Tùr Chliamhainn |
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Saint Clement's church photographed from the pathway leading up to the main entrance
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| Built | Early 16th Century |
| Built for | Alasdair Crotach MacLeod |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 5 October 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB12912 |
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St Clement's Church, also known as Rodel Church (or Tùr Chliamhainn in Scottish Gaelic, meaning Clement's Tower), is an old church in Rodel, Harris, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, between the late 1400s and early 1500s. Important leaders of the MacLeod family, called Chiefs, had it built. The church is named after Pope Clement I.
Contents
What Does St Clement's Church Look Like?
The church was built using strong local rock called Lewisian gneiss. It has a cross shape when you look at it from above. At the west end, there is a tall tower. You can reach the tower by going through a door at the west end of the main part of the church, called the nave. Then, you climb stone stairs and wooden ladders.
Inside the Church
At the opposite, east end of the church, you'll find the choir and the sanctuary. This area used to have a high altar and was separated from the nave by a wooden screen. On both sides of the nave, there are parts that stick out, called transepts. These transepts have extra chapels. The main entrance door faces north and leads into the nave. The church's design style is typical of buildings from around 1520 to 1550.
Special Graves and Tombs
In 1528, Alasdair Crotach MacLeod, who was the 8th Chief of the MacLeods, had a very grand tomb built for himself. This tomb is on the south side of the choir. Many people think it's one of the most beautiful medieval wall tombs in Scotland. It has an arch over it and is decorated with carvings of Bible stories.
Alasdair's son, William, who became the 9th Chief, had his grave prepared in 1539. It is in the south wall of the nave. There is also a third grave in the south transept. This grave probably belongs to John MacLeod of Minginish, the 10th Chief. You can also see five more grave slabs leaning against the wall in the north transept. Outside the church, the graveyard has many other tombs belonging to the MacLeod family.
The History of St Clement's Church
According to Dean Donald Munro, who wrote about the Western Isles in 1549, the church was built for the Chiefs of the MacLeods of Harris. These Chiefs lived in Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye. The church was likely built around 1520. It's thought that there might have been an older church on this spot, but there isn't clear proof.
Munro called the church a "monastery." However, there's no sign that a group of monks lived there. So, people believe he meant it was a very important local church with a minister. St Clement's was a Catholic church. But it stopped being used shortly after it was finished, around 1560. This happened because of the Reformation, a big change in religion in Scotland. Even though the church wasn't used, the graveyard continued to be a burial place for the MacLeod family.
Restorations and Repairs
The church's roof fell apart, but it was fixed in 1784 by Captain Alexander MacLeod. Sadly, it burned down soon after and had to be rebuilt again in 1787. In the 1800s, the church was even used as a place to keep cows!
However, in 1873, Catherine Herbert, the Countess of Dunmore, had the church restored. Later, in 1913, the tower had to be rebuilt. It had been damaged by a lightning strike six years earlier. Today, Historic Scotland takes care of the church, making sure it stays in good condition.
It is believed that Mary Macleod (Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh), a famous poet from the 1600s, is buried here.
