Iglesia de San Clemente, Rodel

La iglesia de San Clemente ( en gaélico escocés : Tùr Chliamhainn , que significa Torre de Clemente) es una iglesia de finales del siglo XV o principios del XVI situada en Rodel , Harris , Escocia, construida para los jefes de los MacLeod de Harris . Está dedicada al papa Clemente I. A veces se la conoce como Eaglais Roghadail o Iglesia de Rodal .

La iglesia fue construida con roca gneis lewisiana local . Su planta es cruciforme y cuenta con una torre en el extremo oeste, accesible a través de una puerta en el extremo oeste de la nave y una serie de escaleras de piedra y de madera. El coro y el presbiterio con el altar mayor, que antiguamente estaban separados de la nave por una mampara de madera, se ubican en el extremo este de la iglesia. En los transeptos que parten de la nave a ambos lados, hay capillas adicionales; la puerta de entrada apunta al norte y conduce a la nave. El estilo arquitectónico corresponde esencialmente al de 1520 a 1550.

En 1528, Alasdair Crotach MacLeod , octavo jefe, preparó para sí una magnífica tumba mural en el lado sur del coro, posiblemente la tumba mural medieval más hermosa de Escocia, coronada por un arco y adornada con tallas de motivos bíblicos. El noveno jefe, William, hijo de Alasadair o Alexander, mandó preparar su tumba en el muro sur de la nave en 1539. En el transepto sur, hay una tercera tumba que probablemente pertenece a John MacLeod de Minginish, el décimo jefe. Hay cinco lápidas más apoyadas contra el muro del transepto norte. El cementerio que rodea la iglesia contiene varias tumbas de la familia MacLeod.

According to Dean Donald Munro in his 1549 work about the Western Isles,^[1] the church was built for the Chiefs of the MacLeods of Harris, who lived in Dunvegan Castle in Skye, probably from about 1520, and is not considered the first church on the site although there is no clear evidence of an older Celtic church. Munro described the church as a monastery, but as there is no evidence hinting to a monastic community, this expression is believed to refer to a minister, and with it to an important parish church. It was a Catholic church before falling into disuse shortly after its completion around 1560 as a consequence of the reformation, but the churchyard continued to be used as a MacLeod burial site. The church's decayed roof was renewed in 1784 by Captain Alexander MacLeod of Berneray, but burned down shortly after and had to be rebuilt once again in 1787. In the 19th century it was used as a cow byre before being restored by Catherine Herbert Countess of Dunmore in 1873, and in 1913, the tower was rebuilt after being damaged by a lightning strike six years earlier. Today, the church is under the care of Historic Scotland. Notable 17th-century poet Mary Macleod (Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh) is said to be buried here.

Media related to St Clement's Church, Rodel at Wikimedia Commons

• St. Clement's Church at Historic Environment Scotland
• Panorama of St Clements Church (QuickTime required)
• St. Clement's Church / Tur Chliamainn, Rodel