St Clement's Church On Visit To Rodel Isle Of Harris Outer Hebrides Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video, with Scottish music, of St Clement's Church and graveyard on ancestry, genealogy, history visit to Rodel village, Scottish Gaelic: Roghadal, on the south eastern coast of Isle Of Harris Outer Hebrides. St Clement's Church, Scottish Gaelic: Tùr Chliamhainn, meaning Clement's Tower, is a late fifteenth century or early sixteenth century church. The church was built for the Chiefs of the Clan MacLeod of Harris, who lived in Dunvegan Castle on Skye, probably from about 1520, and is not considered the first church on the site although there is no clear evidence of an older Celtic church. It was a Catholic church before falling into disuse shortly after its completion around 1560 as a consequence of the reformation, but the churchyard continued to be used as a MacLeod burial site. The church's decayed roof was renewed in 1784 by Captain Alexander MacLeod of Berneray, but burned down shortly after and had to be rebuilt once again in 1787. In the 19th century it was used as a cow byre before being restored by Catherine Herbert Countess of Dunmore in 1873, and in 1913, the tower was rebuilt after being damaged by a lightning strike six years earlier. The 17th century poet Mary Macleod, Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, is said to be buried here. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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