St Moluag's Cathedral, Lismore facts for kids
St Moluag's Cathedral is an important church located on the Scottish island of Lismore. This island is found just off the coast near Oban. The cathedral is part of the Church of Scotland, which is a Presbyterian church. The building you see today was built in 1749. It stands on the same spot where a much older cathedral from the 1200s once stood. The newer church even uses some materials from the old one.
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History of St Moluag's Cathedral
The story of St Moluag's Cathedral begins with Saint Moluag. He was a saint who lived a very long time ago, around the year 592. Saint Moluag started a monastery on Lismore island. A monastery is a place where monks live and worship.
This monastery became a very important center for Christianity in Scotland. Later, it became the main church for the bishop of Argyll or the Isles. You might think Lismore island is a quiet, out-of-the-way place today. But long ago, traveling by water was the fastest way to get around. This made Lismore a perfect central spot for a church.
Changes to the Cathedral Over Time
The Diocese of Argyll was not a very rich area in Scotland. Because of this, the cathedral built in the 1300s was quite small. In 1749, a big change happened. The part of the cathedral called the choir was turned into a regular parish church. To do this, the building was made lower, and new windows were added. The front part of the cathedral, called the nave, and its western tower were taken down.
Even with these changes, some parts of the old medieval cathedral can still be seen. You can find three old doorways, though one is now blocked up. There's also a special basin called a piscina, used for washing sacred vessels. You can also see a triple-arched seating area called sedilia. Several old grave slabs from the medieval period are kept inside the church or in the nearby graveyard.
The Church Today
Today, the building is still used as the main church for the people of Lismore. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. This church is also connected with Appin Parish Church, which is on the mainland. The current minister who leads the church is Iain Barclay.
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