North Uist, Carinish, Teampull Na Trionaid. General view.

Description North Uist, Carinish, Teampull Na Trionaid. General view.

Date 20/9/1897

Collection Papers of Erskine Beveridge, antiquarian, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 747044

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of IN 928

Scope and Content Teampull na Trionaid and Teampull Clann a' Phiocair (Church of the Trinity & Church of Clan MacVicar), Carinish, North Uist, Western Isles The ruins of two adjoining chapels dating from the early 13th century, Teampull na Trionaid and Teampull Clann a' Phiocair (Church of the Trinity & Church of Clan MacVicar), stand on a grassy knoll on the Carinish peninsula in the south-west of the island. The twin chapels, which constitute one of the most interesting ecclesiastical sites in North Uist, were photographed c.1897 by the Victorian photographer and archaeologist, Erskine Beveridge. Temple an Trionaid (left), the larger of the two chapels, is also older in origin, although it has been once completely and once partially rebuilt. It is constructed of flat, undressed stones, with a lofty north wall (centre) containing a doorway which leads through a vaulted passage to the adjoining Teampull Clann a' Phiocair (right). This smaller chapel, although now ruinous, shows no evidence of reconstruction, and probably remains very much as it was when first erected. It is built of water-worn stones interspersed with numerous thin, small slabs, and retains its gables and south wall, although little of its north wall remains. Both buildings contain burials within their walls. It is thought that Temple an Trionaid was founded by Berthog, daughter of Somerled and first prioress of Iona c.1203. The chapel may have been enlarged or rebuilt by prioress Beatrice in the 13th century, and altered again by Amie MacRuari, wife of John, Lord of the Isles, c.1350-90. In 1560, after the Reformation, the chapel fell in disuse, but in its time it was recognised as an important site in the Outer Isles as a school or college and seat of learning similar to Iona. Teampull Clann a' Phiocair has no recorded history, and its name is most likely to have been acquired in post-Reformation times. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/747044

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap