THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. CLEMENT, Rowdil, Harris, Inverness-shire.
Amongst the numerous remains of ancient ecclesiastical structures
still surviving in the Western Isles, the Church of St. Clement, situated near
the south point of Harris, holds a prominent place, being one of the very
few ancient structures in that region which are not ruinous, and are still in
use for public worship.
The origin of the church is uncertain, but it is supposed to have been originally founded by an emissary from Iona, and to have fallen into decay during the occupation of the Norsemen. It is thought that the necessities of the monastery, thus arising, were probably relieved by David I. "from the revenues of the newly instituted Abbey of Holyrood House," and that this may have given the monks of the latter the claim to St. Clement's, which they afterwards substantiated.[1]
It is agreed amongst writers on the subject[2] that the church was restored or rebuilt by Sir Alexander M'Leod, Rector of Harris, who seems to have used the materials of an older building in the restoration. This is evident from the random manner in which some carved figures are built into the walls of the west tower.
Mr. Ross points out that Alaster Crotach or Humpback had, in 1498, a charter from King James IV. for the hereditary lands of Ardmanich, &c., and that he was succeeded by his son William, who died in 1553.
The Old Statistical Account informs us that the church was repaired by the said Alexander M'Leod, who died (as the inscription on his tomb in the church bears) in 1527.
Of the domestic buildings of the priory not a stone now remains. The church was burnt and was repaired in "1784 by the late patriotic Alex. M'Leod, Esq., of Harris. After the church was roofed and slated, and the materials for furnishing it within laid up in it to a considerable value, it unfortunately took fire at night through the carelessness of the carpenters, who had left a live coal in it among the timbers. So zealous, however, was this friend of religion and mankind in his design of repairing it, that by his orders and at his expense it was soon after this accident roofed, and it is now [1794], though left unfinished since the time of his death, used as one of the principal places in the parish for celebrating divine service."
The church was again repaired in 1787. About 1866 it had once more become dilapidated, and was repaired under the supervision of
