Bible restoration

Calum Mackay

For well over a century, until approximately twenty years ago, different denominations of the church employed catechists, lay preachers, or missionaries in small communities throughout the Highlands and Islands where the employment of a full-time minister could not be justified.

Although they were not permitted to administer the Sacraments, to perform marriages or to preside over the Courts of the congregation, they were expected to engage in all the other legitimate duties devolved on the preacher as the need and opportunity arose. There were Mission Stations in Harris at Leverburgh, Borve, Amhuinnsuidhe, Taransay, Manish, Bays of Harris, Marig, Scalpay, and Scarp.

Approximately seventy years ago, an illustrated pulpit bible was presented to the Amhuinnsuidhe Church of Scotland Mission Station. The bible was presented in memory of John Macdonald, who had served as a missionary at Amhuinnsuidhe for 21 years between 1928 and 1949. The bible was presented by his niece Peggy Gray. The current mission house and hall were built in 1962, when Kenneth Campbell was the resident missionary. The Amhuinnsuidhe mission station ceased to be used for services in October 2015. Over the years since then, the mission hall was not used for any purpose and was sold by the church of Scotland a couple of years ago. The building has now deteriorated considerably. Unfortunately, the pulpit bible, which was in the building, suffered a similar fate. However, in recent months, members of the local community who used to attend services in Amhuinnsuidhe have collectively raised the necessary funds to have the bible restored. A firm of bookbinders in Glasgow undertook the restoration work. The bible will now be retained in the Church of Scotland, Tarbert.

John Macdonald was born in 1876 at croft 2 Luachair (Ceann Loch Rèasort). His father was Finlay Macdonald (Fionnlagh Iain Ruaidh), who had moved to 2 Luachair from croft 10 Scarp. His mother was Margaret Macdonald, who was brought up at Crola (close to Ceann Loch Rèasort). John’s grandfather was John Macdonald (Iain Ruadh). So, John was known locally as Iain Fhionnlaigh Iain Ruaidh (John son of Finlay, son of red haired John).

John had the following siblings: Ann, Kate, Donald John, Kate Ann (d.i.i), Kate Ann, and Marion. Ann was married to John Gray from Inverness, and it was her daughter Peggy who presented the bible to the Amhuinnsuidhe mission station.

Missionaries who served at Amhuinnsuidhe:

John Macdonald                    from Scarp

William Duncan                     from Scarp

Calum Macdonald                 from Cairishiadar, Uig, Lewis

Calum Maciver                       from Point  (The father of Rev Norman Maciver)

Kenneth Campbell                 from Scadabay

Alasdair Macmillan                from Berneray, Harris

Donald Allan Maclean           from Barvas, Lewis

Donald John Montgomery    from Barvas, Lewis