The Early Church in Skye

THE EARLY CHURCH IN SKYE

Up until now, any knowledge that we have of prehistoric Skye has been gleaned from the study of the earliest written sources, climatic changes, and archaeology with carbon dating. Today, however, giant strides in the field of human genetics, aided by advances in computer technology, are rapidly changing the study of our ancestors into an exact science. Already it is possible with a knowledge of DNA structure and computer applications to deduce that all the indigenous population of Skye stem from one particular female. It is therefore safe to regard anyone with a Skye background and who is also Gaelic speaking (and indeed some without Gaelic) as a "cousin agam Fhein".

This lady must have arrived in Skye about 6000 years ago, she and her husband representatives of the Mesolithic culture of the time. Their own immediate ancestors would have moved up the west coast over a period of several hundreds of years, although it is possible that movement northwards took place more rapidly. Their way of life was based on hunting and fishing, and their homes were built on rafts of branches by the sea or fresh water, or in caves.

Then followed the Farmers and Herdsmen who stemmed from the Near East. It took some 6000 years for these Neolithic people to reach Britain, in around 3000 BC, and another 1000 years would pass before they settled in Skye. As their name implies, they were builders in stone, and examples of their chambers and round cairns can be seen throughout the island, for example Carn Liath at Kensalyre. A secondary Neolithic culture followed, which brought the idea of the circle or at least its use for sacred or ritual purposes.


Above: Standing stones at Kensaleyre, Trotternish, Isle of Skye. Right: Standing stones at Borve, Trotternish, Isle of Skye

The Bronze Age was ushered into Britain by the Beaker invasions of around 1800 BC, so called from the use of their characteristic pottery, bell shaped and necked beakers, later developed into a long necked type. They brought copper to Britain, which had been in use on the continent for hundreds of years. This culture probably did not reach Skye until around 1000 BC. This was the age of hill forts e.g. Dun Skudiburgh, and Dun Gerashader.

The Iron Age followed, merging into the latter years of the Bronze Age about the time of Christ, throughout the Hebrides, Caithness, Sutherland and the Orkneys. They were the builders of the Duns, Brochs, and wheelhouses, of which there are many examples throughout Skye.

Throughout the Highlands, elements of the Neolithic age lasted until what became a fully developed iron age elsewhere in Britain. With the advent of the Christian era, Skye presented a mixture of all that had gone before, in ternis of human habitation and about half a dozen different strains of people who no doubt fought each other, and later intermingled and coalesced to become the indigenous Sgiathanachs.

With each phase of change came different forms of pagan religious beliefs, culminating in the well established Druid Culture of the Celts. Celtic Religion was a varied and complex series of cults, of gods and goddesses of different origins and functions. Shrines were usually in the open air or in sacred groves. Springs and holy wells had their healing divinities. At times human sacrifice was resorted to in times of crisis. The folk lore of the island abounds with evidence that many pagan rites and customs have persisted throughout the centuries. Loch Siant in Flodigarry is a well known example with its sacred well nearby, to which invalids were brought. They drank the water and then proceeded three times round it, always to the right, "deiseal", leaving various offerings, coins, threads, scraps or clothing. The loch, and the copse around it, and the fish in it, were all regarded as sacred. The elder or the rowan growing beside the croft house afforded protection. Certain plants were ascribed magical powers, and indeed healing powers, e.g. Water Cress, Fig-Wort, Ivy, Bramble, and St Johns Wort. Every aspect of their every day living was touched by magic, witches, fairies, water kelpies, and water horses. Humans were attributed supernatural powers and this belief has persisted. I remember entering a house to find the owner bemoaning the ruination of a pair of trousers, caught in a barbed wire fence just minutes previously. 'As they tore' he said, 'I looked up and she was standing at her doorway watching me'. Knowing the particular female I heartily agreed that she must have been involved in the mishap!

The Celtic branch of the Indo-European 'family tree' moved from Eastern Europe and settled in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Northern Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, and the British Isles. There were also some smaller areas of settlement including the district around Ankara, which St Paul visited referring to them as "Foolish Galatians!" A sub division of the Celts took place into two groups:

1) The 'P' Celts who discarded the original 'Q' sound. They were the earliest Celtic people to arrive in Britain, arriving in two waves. First to arrive was the Cruithnean and secondly the Cymric, the latter edging northwards, and the former who in time were pushed further north and eventually became the Picts, fighting a rearguard action against the advancing Roman armies. A similar twofold Celtic invasion took place in Ireland, but here there was no Roman intrusion.

2) The 'Q' Celts arrived from the continent, but bypassed Britain and landed in Ireland, eventually becoming the dominant people there.

These Irish Gaels, most probably a mixture of 'P' and 'Q' Celts, soon began to raid the Western Coasts of Britain where it seems they had only limited success, their only lasting foothold being in the most sparsely populated area, the Western Highlands. Their incursions were no doubt resisted when they came up against their fellow Celts the Picts who had put down their roots in Strathclyde and the Eastern Highlands.

It is safe to state that by the beginning of the 4th Century the stage was being set for the arrival of the Irish missionaries with their gospel message.

Continued on Early Church in Skye - Part 2

Early Church in Skye - Part 1
Early Church in Skye - Part 2
Early Church in Skye - Part 3
Early Church in Skye - Part 4
Early Church in Skye - Part 5

St Columba
Early Medieval Resources
Prehistoric Sites in Scotland
Scots Gaelic in relation to other Celtic Languages
Skye Scene Highland Ceilidh
A Short History of Crofting in Skye
Scottish traditional sheet music
The Great Flood of Uig, 1877
Birds of Trotternish
Plant Life of Trotternish
Skye Museum of Island Life
Skye Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Skye Self-Catering Accommodation
Isle of Skye Car Hire

Top of this page