In the decade to 2007 

With services from the mid-90s being held alternatively at two Uig churches, and with the older building’s increasing need for significant renovation, the decision was finally made to close Baile na Cille.

 

2007 – 2008

The Church of Scotland decides to sell Baile na Cille.

 

2008 – 2009

A strongly supported community initiative to purchase Baile na Cille was undertaken, as reported on STV news, 18th October 2008: (Link)

The initiative was regrettably unsuccessful, as the Church of Scotland refused to accept a sale price that was less than the independent assessor’s valuation.

 

2010 – 2011 

Baile na Cille is purchased and passes into private custodianship. Permissions are subsequently granted to convert Baile na Cille into a home.

 

2011, 10th & 13th September

‘Doors Open Day’ , a Scottish Civic Trust initiative, supported by Historic Scotland, to open up historic buildings to the public. 

The official Open day was Saturday 10th but to coincide with the Lewis chessmen making a visit to Uig community hall the church was again open on the 13th, and over the two days the church saw over 140 visitors. The following booklet was prepared for these open days;

Baile na Cille Church_2011-09-02 18.28

On the 13th,  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal’s Coinneach Maclomhair conducted an interview within the church with a number of Uig residents and a former minister.

Neither the transcript nor recording are publicly available.

 

2011, November

Taigh Dhe, a 5min film about a visit to Baile na Cille Church on a winters day in November 2011. Filmmakers were Keith Stringer and Eric John MacDonald.

(Link)

(Link)

 

Late 2011 – May 2012

A record of the inscriptions made on the pews was undertaken. The result can be seen on the CEUIG website.

 

May & October 2012

After the Doors Open Days in 2011 an initiative was started to find out what interest there was, within the Uig community, for re-homing the church pews.

Over a number of days in May and October 2012 around half of the pews were removed and relocated to homes within Uig.