Stone Slab with Celtic Carvings	Information Board from Historic Scotland	External View of the Church, Tower, and Burial Ground
Stone Slabs in the North Choir	Southern Window	Alisdair Crotach's Tomb, Prepared in 1528
Carvings on Alisdair Crotach's Tomb	Tomb of Alexander MacLeod	Steps to the Tower
View from Tower Window	Alexander Macleods Tomb	Eastern Window above the Altar

In the village of Rodel, on the southern coast of Harris stands the 15th century church of St Clement's (above). It is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in the Western Isles. It is situated on the side of a hill, not far from the old pier and recently redeveloped hotel. The sight of the tower emerging from the surrounding hills when driving through the village of Rodel is breathtaking. The atmosphere in the church and around the grounds (which for many years was the burial place of the MacLeods of Harris) is awe inspiring. It is an amazingly peaceful place.

St Clement's was originally built (using local Lewisian Gneiss rock) for the Cheifs of the MacLeods of Harris, who lived in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. The church was build at the closest point in Harris to Dunvegan, and from the tower, the waters of the Minch between Harris, Uist and the Mainland could be watched to detect any potential invaders, namely the MacDonalds. The church served as the burial place of the standard bearers of the "fairy flag" - a magical flag that was waved by the MacLeods before battle for good luck. When a bearer died, his remains where placed on a metal rack under the floor of the church. When his successor eventually died, the bones of the previous bearer were shaken through the rack to make way for the next body - an unusual custom. In the extended choir at the east side of the church, the elaborately decorated tomb of Alisdair Crotach, the 8th chief, can be found. This was prepared in 1528. The tomb shows scenes of the Castle in Dunvegan, religious figures, and a carved effigy of the chief himself.

By the 18th century, the church had become ruinous, and for many years was used as a cow stable. It was restored in 1784, but labourers working on the renovation accidentally caused a fire, and the building was restored again in 1787. The church fell out of use once again, but was restored once again by the Countess of Dunmore in 1873. The church is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Words and Images: Hebridean Resource Centre