9.5 Teampall Chaluim Chille, Eilean Chaluim Chille, Loch Èireasoirt, Eilean Leòdhais
Is iongantach mun robh Eilean beag Chaluim Chille ceangailte ris a’ chreideamh Chrìosdail on 7mh linn. Tha e air fìor cheann an ear Loch Èireasoirt mar a tha e a’ fosgladh a-mach dhan Chuan Sgìth.
Tha e glè choltach gun robh an eaglais air an eilean a’ dol air ais chun 12mh linn. Bhiodh eaglais sam bith a bhiodh ann ron sin air a dèanamh de sgrath, mòine no fiodh agus mar sin cha bhiodh càil dhen sin air fhàgail. Tha arceòlaichean air fianais, ro-Chrìosdail, Crìosdail agus Lochlannach a lorg ann an seo.
Chaidh an eaglais a coisrigeadh do Chalum Chille – sin as coireach gu bheil an t-ainm seo air an eilean. Tha sgeulachdan ionadail ag innse mar a bha manachainn agus taigh sagairt air an eilean. Ann an 1549, thadhail an Ridire Dòmhnall Rothach air an eilean agus rinn e dealbh air an ubhal-ghort a chunnaic e ann. An uair a bha Màrtainn Màrtainn ann an Innse Gall aig deireadh an 17mh linn, dh’ainmich e eaglais a bha air Eilean Chaluim Chille.
Bha cumadh ceart-cheàrnach air an eaglais ach dh’fhaodadh gun robh togalaichean eile faisg air làimh. Tha Crois Eilean mar ainm air pàirt dhan eilean agus is dòcha gur e seo crìoch an fhearainn a bha fo chùraim na h-eaglaise.
Bha an cladh air a chleachdadh chun 19mh linn airson Sgìre nan Loch air fad. Bha cunntas mun eilean san leabhar a sgrìobh Iain Sands ann an 1876 ‘Out of the World’ no ‘Life in St Kilda’,
‘Captain M’Donald took me in his gig to see a churchyard situated on an island called St Colm. It is quite close to the water, and is about sixty feet square…Although there seems to be plenty of suitable ground outside, the people persist in interring the dead within the ancient limits. Nay, not interring but piling the coffins one on top of the other, until they have risen to the height of ten feet above the surface. The coffins are not even covered with earth, but are only wrapped in turf.’
Air tìr mòr aig Cro Mòr, bha aon dha na croitean air ainmeachadh mar Lios an Teampaill no Garden of the Chapel. Agus tha beul-aithris ionadail ag ràdh gun robh sagart Naomh Calum a’ fuireach an seo air tìr mòr.