Monument record 173 - ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH, KIRIVICK, LEWIS

NB14SE 6 1940 4189.

(NB 1940 4189) Burial Ground (NAT)
OS 6'map, (1965)

The pre-Reformation Church of 'St Michael in Kirvig' is mentioned by Martin. The neighbouring names 'Baile an Teamnuill' ('Baile an Teampuill' in Name Book: NB 1955 4181) and 'Mol na Gile' (Mhuil an Cille' alternative spelling in Name Book 1850: NB 1926 4194), suggests that this is its site.
M Martin 1934; Name Book 1850.

It is locally believed that St Michael's Church stood on a low knoll within the disused burial ground. The knoll is now occupied by gravestones and obscured by heavy vegetation but on its N & W sides can be seen the remains of a dry stone wall c.7.0m long on the N by c.6.5m on the W. It is possible that this is part of the church, but it has the appearance more of a retaining wall.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (A A) 30 June 1969.

This church is locally believed to have been built after that on Bearnaraigh Bheag, during a season of severe storms when bodies could not be transported to the island for burial on the traditional site. MML 21.9.99

Teampall Cmhicheil is situated in a graveyard at Cirbhig, and the knoll is as described by the OS. The teampall site is located at nB 18406 41847. Ther is no direct evidence for the teampall itself, but in the centre of the cemetery there is a rectangular mound aligned east-west. On its north side it is 1.1m above the general graveyard level. The mound id approximately 8m EW and 5m NS. The top surface is generally flat with small hummocks. It is also covered with gravestones, which are in three rows of small head and/or foot stones, and these are closely packed. However the mound is covered in thick vegetation even in the winter. In the north and west faces of the mound are up to three courses of stonework, apparently dry-stone with no evidence of mortar. The maximum height of visible exposed stonework is 0.64m. On the east face of the mound, there is no visible or apparent coursed stonework, but there are upright grave slabs leaning against the mound and forming its outer edge.
Barrowman 2005, 35

Martin Martin, 1695a, A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland c. 1695, 106 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5082.

Burgess, Christopher & Church, Michael, 1997, Coastal Erosion Assessment, Lewis. A Report for Historic Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41000.

Name Book (County), 1998, Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 28, 16, 18 (Unpublished document). SWE4254.

Rachel Barrowman, 2005, Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey 2004/5 (Unpublished document). SWE41095.