Lewis, Teampall Amhlaigh
Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)
Site Name Lewis, Teampall Amhlaigh
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) St Aula's Church, Gress; Gress Old Church; Church Of St Aula In Grease
Canmore ID 4337
Site Number NB44SE 3
NGR NB 49020 41540
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/4337
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Stornoway
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
NB44SE 3 49020 41540
(NB 4902 4154) Gress Church (NR) (In Ruins)
OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1898)
Church of 'St Aula in Grease' listed.
M Martin 1934.
St Aula's Church briefly described.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1896-7.
A simple church, 19ft by 13ft 11 ins internally, orientated south of east, with walls and gable still standing in 1914. Above the door is the date 1681 with the initials IB/MK
RCAHMS 1928.
The remains are as described by RCAHMS (1928) and the inscription over the door, though much weathered is still decipherable. The door is on the S Wall with a window to the W of it. The only other window is in the W Wall. There are three graves inside the church. Modern lean-to structures have been added to the exterior of the E and N walls to house biers and other equipment related to the surrounding burial ground, which is still in use.
Visited by OS (ALFR) assistant archaeology officer, 20 April 1964.
This chapel site was included in a research project to identify the chapel sites of Lewis and surrounding islands. The Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites survey recorded 37 such sites. A plane table survey of the chapel was carried out.
R Barrowman 2005
Field Visit (24 June 1914)
Church, Gress.
The walls and gables of this simple church are still standing. It is 19 feet by 13 feet 11 inches internally and is orientated south of east. Above the door is the date 1681 with the initials IB MK. There are no particular features. (Fig. 17.)
Martin (c 1695) speaks of the church of "St Aula (i.e. Olaf) in Grease."
RCAHMS 1928, visited 24 June 1914.
OS map: Lewis xv.
Note
Title: Chapel-sites on the Isle of Lewis: Results of the Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey
Journal: SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERNET REPORTS (e-ISSN: 2056-7421)
Author: Barrowman, R C
Publisher: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh
Date: 2020
MCE (2023): Reviewed as part of the GAPR. Publication was completed in 2020. Open Access publication with SAIR. Publication grant-aided by HES.
