Archaeology Notes

Event ID 657258

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/657258

NG08SW 7.00 04773 83184

(NG 0475 8318) St Clement's Church (NR).

OS 6" map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903).

NG08SW 7.01 NG 04757 83177 Sheela-na-gig

St. Clement's is considered to be the most outstanding church building in the Hebrides (A A MacGregor 1949). Muir tentatively suggests a 13th century date (T S Muir 1885) for the original, oblong, single apartment building, which was enlarged in the late 15th or early 16th century (A A MacGregor 1949) The dedication is possibly to Clement, Bishop of Dunblane (E. 13th century). Restorations apparently took place in the years 1784, 1787 and 1873 (A A MacGregor 1946). Easson sees no reason to regard this as other than a parish church, despite allegations that it was once a monastic foundation (D E Easson 1957). The interior of the church is remarkable for possessing one of the finest tombs in Scotland (16th century), in addition to carved slabs and a disc-headed cross (RCAHMS 1928). A brass chalice-shaped cup was found in the churchyard.

T S Muir 1885; A Ross 1885; D Murray 1897; RCAHMS 1928; A A MacGregor 1946; A A MacGregor 1947; D E Easson 1957.

St Clement's Church, as described and illustrated, and now under guardianship.

Visited by OS (N K B), 4 July 1969.