Small Isles, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Small Isles (Canna, Eigg, Rum, and Muck), Inverness, Scotland (#116)

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
No records prior to 1885.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
None available

Small Isles Free Church
History— The minister of this parish, comprising the four inhabited islands, Eigg, Rum, Canna, and Muck, came out in 1843. The population of the group was about 1000, nearly half of whom were Roman Catholics. There was no church building on the islands. No site could be got on Eigg. These adherents were few and when the minister was transferred in 1847, the congregation was reduced to a preaching station. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Roman Catholic Church in The Small Isles
History— There has been a Catholic presence in the Small Isles since long before the Scottish Reformation, the inhabitants having been converted in ancient times. In 1700 the Catholic population stood at 300 on Eigg, 130 on Canna; and the residents of Rum and Muck were said to be all Catholic. Shortly before that time many islanders on Eigg had suffered martyrdon at the hands of an English pirate named Porringer who held a knife to their throats and forced them to either renounce the Catholic faith or die, and many chose to die. A Catholic chapel was located on Eigg. Today the Catholics in the Small Isles are served from Fort William on the mainland. Sources: History of the Catholic Church of Scotland, by Alphons Bellesheim, 1890, FHL British Book 941 K2be vol. 4; also The Catholic Directory for Scotland, 1987, FHL Brit Ref. Book 941 K24ca.

Records— There was a resident priest at Eigg from 1842, but there are no known records.