Saints in Scottish Place-Names
Funded by a Leverhulme Trust Project Grant
St Michael's Chapel, eccl. Barra
Grid reference
NF 647 016 (accurate position)
Six-figure easting & northing
64700 801600
Latitude
56.98369183869171
Longitude
-7.521134236896149
Altitude (metres)
5
County
Inverness-shire
Nearby places
St Brendan RC Church, Barra (0.69 miles)
Barra, island Barra (2.35 miles)
Cille Bhrianain, eccl. Barra (Vatersay) (3.81 miles)
Kilmoire, eccles., Barra (4.69 miles)
Barra, parish aka Kilbarr (5.08 miles)
Object Classification
Antiquity
Ecclesiastical
Is linear feature?
No
Notes
There is confusion about the dedication of this chapel. According to NMRS "The OS dedication to St Brendan was authorised by a Mr McKinnon of Borve and Mr McMillan, a shepherd; the description is simply 'ruin of an ancient chapel'. But OSA xiii, 335 gives the dedication of the chapel at Borve as to St Michael, and this is the dedication given also by OPS (1854). It is worth considering that the name Brendan got wrongly attached to this ancient church by the surveyors, or by their informant, by confusion with St Brendan's Church nearby. This was built in 1858 'a small, gothic-windowed box built by communal effort to replace a chapel of 1805' Mary Miers, "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", 2008. NMRS records a surviving chancel and nave, and a nearby group of stone-line graves uncovered by a storm. On the cult of Michael in Barra, see Martin Martin: 'They have likewise a general cavalcade on St Michael's Day, in Kilbar village, and do then also take a turn round their church. Every family, as soon as the solemnity is ended, is accustomed to bake St Michael's cake ... and all strangers, together with those of the family, must eat the bread that night' (1703, 164).
Relationships with other parishes
Within Barra, parish aka Kilbarr
Names
2 head-names linked to this place ?St Brendan's Chapel
Head name
St Brendan's Chapel
Place
St Michael's Chapel, eccl. Barra
Certainty that this name applies to this place
Certain
The status of this name is
Obsolete
Is this a current OS form? ?
No
Is this the original referent of the place?
Yes
Is the association of this name to this object hypothetical?
No
St Brendan's Chapel 1843, OS 6 inch first edn.
Historic formSt Brendan's Chapel Head nameSt Brendan's Chapel PlaceSt Michael's Chapel, eccl. Barra Certainty that this name applies to this placeCertain SourceOS 6 inch first edn. Date of citation1843 x 1882 Notes on the context of this place-nameMid to late 19th c. |
Source code
OS 6 inch first edn.
Source title
Ordnance Survey 6 Inch to the Mile, First Edition
Notes
Mid to late 19th c.
Saints in this place-name
Brénainn (ns) (certain)
Brénainn m. Findloga of Cluain Ferta (probable)
St Michael's Chapel
Head name
St Michael's Chapel
Place
St Michael's Chapel, eccl. Barra
Certainty that this name applies to this place
Certain
The status of this name is
Hypothetical
Is this a current OS form? ?
No
Is this the original referent of the place?
Yes
Is the association of this name to this object hypothetical?
Yes
Saints in this place-name
Michael (ns) (certain)
Michael, Archangel (certain)