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“1928 – 2002”

1928-1930 Rev Roderick Macinnes

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1931-1950 Rev Norman Morrison

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1951-1979 Rev Angus MacFarlane

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1955 – rare photographs of the inside of Baile na Cille, (Link);

1955-rare-1-e1334784860831.jpg
1955-rare-2-e1334784826464.jpg

1971 – 25 March, Church listed;

“HB Number 19272
Item Number 16
UIG, UIG PARISH CHURCH AT BAILE NA CILLE INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS
Category: B
Date of Listing 25th March 1971
Description: Built 1829 on a new site, as parish church. T-plan, harled, painted ingoes, variety of glazing patterns on multi-paned tall and flat-lintelled windows to jamb, round-arched glazing to long south wall (centre gabled vestry perhaps an addition), domestic-scale sash and case windows on gables, with 4-pane glazing pattern. Bell hangs in east gable-head, below a gable canopy (like those seen at some Lewis schools, eg Marvig), doubtless a concession to the climate. Skews, run horizontally over skewputts; slated roofs.
Interior is well-preserved; pulpit with precentor’s box, canopy supported on pair moulded slender timber shafts, box pew either side; walls and ceiling all have timber V-lining; gallery in each of the 3 arms, with splayed links at the angles and supported on columns of cast-iron or of timber. Enclosed by rubble wall, plain iron gate.
References: Groome, GAZETTEER, vol VI, p465; Hay, ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST=REFORMATION CHURCHES, 1957, p273.
Notes: Ecclesiastical building in use as such.”

1974 – Within the church a plaque tells us that a renovation took place in 1974;

1974
THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH WAS RENOVATED
TO COMMEMORATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE APPOINTMENT TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND OF THE REVEREND HUGH MUNRO
WHO SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF THIS PARISH FROM
1807 TO 1823 AND WILL REMEMBERED
FOR HIS MANY VIRTUES.
THE RENOVATION WAS CARRIED OUT THROUGH
THE GOOD OFFICES OF HIS GREAT GREAT GRANDSON
JOHN HUGH MUNRO MACKENZIE OF MORNISH, M.A.  F.R.S.A.  F.B.I.M.
AND FAMILY OF SCALISCRO LODGE, UIG, LEWIS

It is believed that this is when the coat of external render was applied finished with Skye marble.

clock.jpg

1978 – John MacLennan & Family present clock to church;

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Photograph by Brian Gayton

1979-2006 Rev William Macleod    

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1979 – The Ceann Langabhat church became Church of Scotland when the United Free Church joined the Church of Scotland.
In 1979 the two Uig congregations of the Church of Scotland united on the retirement of Rev Angus Macfarlane from Baile na Cille. Rev William Macleod became minister of the united charge. Source: 1979, 5th September; Uig formed by the union of Uig Baile na Cille and Uig Uigen (Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation, date 2000, page 380)

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1998 – October: Scottish Civic Trust understands that the church remains in use every other Sunday, although external inspection reveals it to be in need of repairs. (Link)

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2002 – Baile na Cille is no longer in use. John Macleod’s ‘Banner in the west’ (2008)

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2004, Friday 27th February, Stornoway Gazette, by Donnie Macinnes, ‘Giving thanks for 40 years of preaching in Uig’ (Link)

“To commemorate his 40 years of preaching in Uig, Lewis, a special thanksgiving service was held at the weekend for Church of Scotland minister Revd William Macleod.
Mr Macleod (77) was converted in 1949 during the ‘spiritual awakening’ of the time and within a short period felt the call to the ministry.
Married with a family of three, William and his wife Margaret Ann are originally from Barvas, but have enjoyed their many years in Uig. Mrs Macleod, a former teacher, is heavily involved with other helpers, in the Sunday School and Campaigners.
Mr Macleod studied in Glasgow before taking his theological course at Aberdeen University, completing it in 1956.
In early 1957, Mr Macleod was ordained and inducted in Benbecula and spent seven happy years there.
He received a call from the congregation in Uig and took up ministry there in 1964.
The two Church of Scotlands in Uig — at Uigen and Baile-na-Cille — united in 1979 to become the Uig Church of Scotland.
Said Mr Macleod: “It is very much a strong Gaelic congregation, but we have an English service on Sunday mornings and a Gaelic service in the evenings. There are normally between 30 and 60 at the services. We also have an outreach service in the evening for the non-churchgoers and this attracts between 15 and 20.”
All are welcome to attend any of the services, says Mr Macleod, adding: “As long as we preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ — that is what is important.”
Regarding changes over the 40 years he has been minister in Uig, Mr Macleod said: “The main change is in the population. The school roll has gone down dramatically. There were three schools when we arrived here in 1964 and now there is only one.”
Although his services are in Gaelic and English on Sundays, both are completely different, as is the choice of praise.
He says that over the years he has been involved in the ministry there has been no change in preaching the Gospel.
“Some people might say that you have got to move with the times, but we don’t move from the solid rock of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Mr Macleod.
Regarding his Uig congregation, Mr Macleod said: “There are lovely people in this parish. There is the saying ‘duine uasal Uig’ — and that is what they are, ‘the noble people of Uig’. They are God-fearing people who know their Bible well.”
Mr Macleod went on: “The hand of the Lord was there for us to come to Uig and I did not have much trouble in saying ‘yes’ to the congregation. I have felt no inclination to live anywhere else.”
The community send best wishes to Mr and Mrs Macleod and their family — Kenneth, Murray and Rhona — at this special time.”

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