St Clement's Church, Rodel

The St Clement 's Church, also Tur Chliamainn, is a church building on the Scottish Hebridean island of Harris. In 1971 the building was added to the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A. In addition, the building is protected as a Scheduled Monument. It is considered the most significant pre-Reformation church buildings in the Outer Hebrides. It has the best collection of late medieval carvings in the Outer Hebrides. They range from architectural details such as the fascinating Sheela -na- gigs, to the grave stones and tombs, especially the exquisite grave of the founder of the Church, Alexander Macleod of Harris and Dunvegan.

History

It is assumed that the oldest parts of the church date from an earlier building dating from the 13th century, which was partially integrated into the design. As the founder of Clemens church is Alasdair MacLeod Crotach, the eighth Chief of the Clan MacLeod. Alasdair MacLeod chose his last years on Harris to spend and built a church, which was to be his tomb. He broke it with a clan tradition, after all predecessors were buried on the island of Iona. His grave was completed in 1528 ( MacLeod passed away but until 1547) and the first construction phase was likely to be completed by this time. The building was dedicated to Pope Clement I.. After the Reformation, the church was abandoned. In 1705, the building was described as a ruin, Alexander MacLeod, however, it was restored in the 1780s, twice, a fire destroyed the progress of the first restoration, and expand. In 1841 the church was again described as ruinous and 1873 repaired a second time. A final revision was told the St Clement 's Church in 1913.

Description

The St Clement 's Church is located at the southern tip of Harris in the village toboggan at the end of the A859. It consists of a nave with a transept. At the west end projects on a four-story bell tower. The masonry consists of quarry stone from the local gneiss, the ribbons of greenish sandstone and the ornaments of mica schist. Architecturally, the building on the characteristics of the decaying Gothic. In addition to various pointed arches and lancet windows can be found on the east side and a rose window. Nave and transept close with slated gabled roofs off, the crenellated bell tower, however, with a pyramidal roof. The slate used has a reddish color.