Knock CofS, Garrabost
On Monday we had a quiet day, first scuttling out to Butt of Lewis, then scouting round the shops in Stornoway. Butt of Lewis is a rocky crag of cliffs with a lighthouse and views of the extreme north-west of the Scottish mainland. We watched some seals in the sea and ducked as the seagulls soared over the cliffs. All very beautiful. We spent a little time in a kilt shop, where I once more rejoiced at being Welsh.
In the evening we spoke at Knock CofS where we enjoyed meeting with the people, though their minister was recovering from minor surgery.
Two insignificant things to note about the Lewis churches - one thing is the flock wallpaper that they often have on the pulpit wall. It's the kind of paper that Indian restaurants sometimes have. The other is the sheer size of the buildings. They are vast airy buildings. The airiness makes them nice and light, but apparently in places there is a draught that will turn the pages of your Bible.
Somewhat more significant - these people sing! Whether in Gaelic or in English, the singing is hearty, soulful and quite unlike our singing in Wales, and it is lovely to listen to. In one church they sang Amazing Grace (unaccompanied) and it sounded like a Gaelic psalm, because the melody is always ornamented with grace notes. Lovely.
In the evening we spoke at Knock CofS where we enjoyed meeting with the people, though their minister was recovering from minor surgery.
Two insignificant things to note about the Lewis churches - one thing is the flock wallpaper that they often have on the pulpit wall. It's the kind of paper that Indian restaurants sometimes have. The other is the sheer size of the buildings. They are vast airy buildings. The airiness makes them nice and light, but apparently in places there is a draught that will turn the pages of your Bible.
Somewhat more significant - these people sing! Whether in Gaelic or in English, the singing is hearty, soulful and quite unlike our singing in Wales, and it is lovely to listen to. In one church they sang Amazing Grace (unaccompanied) and it sounded like a Gaelic psalm, because the melody is always ornamented with grace notes. Lovely.
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