Teampall Mholuaidh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Teampall Mholuaidh (St Moluag's Church) |
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Teampall Mholuaidh, 13th Century church in the village of Eoropie
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| Denomination | Episcopalian |
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| Dedication | St Moluag |
St Moluag's Church, known as Scottish Gaelic: Teampall Mholuaidh in Scottish Gaelic, is a very old and important church. You can find it in the village of Eoropie in Ness, on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It's a popular place for visitors because it's easy to reach and has a lot of history!
Historians believe the church was built a long time ago, possibly between the 12th and 16th centuries. Small digs in the 1970s didn't find exact dates. The church has a basic T-shape. It has two small chapels on each side of the main part. You can only get into the southern chapel from outside. Outside the church, there is a war memorial shaped like a Celtic cross.
The church was carefully repaired in 1911 and 1912. James S. Richardson oversaw this work. The pulpit, altar, and font that you see today were all added in 1911.
Today, St Moluag's Church is used by the Scottish Episcopal Church. Regular church services started again in 1994. During the cold winter months, services are held in a different building in Tong. This is because the church does not have heating or proper lighting. Many people traditionally believe this church belongs to the MacLeod family.
Other Churches Nearby
There are ruins of another old church called "Teampall Ronaidh" about 500 meters (1,640 feet) northeast of Teampall Mholuaidh. You can also find the remains of "Teampall Pheadair" about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) southwest. This third church is near an old graveyard close to the village of Swainbost.
Amazing Healing Traditions
One of the most famous stories about St Moluag's Church is its power to heal people. Many believed it could help those with mental health problems. People would travel to the church hoping to get better. If someone was too sick to visit, they would send wooden models of their injured body parts.
In 1630, a visitor named Captain Dymes wrote about this tradition. He saw these wooden models lying on the altar of the chapel. People would carve the shape of their sore arms or legs. They would even show the wounds on the wooden models. Then, they would send these models to the church for the saint to bless.
