St Moluag Church
Known locally as Teampull Mholuaidh (Moluag's Temple) this ancient church has its origins from the 12th Century.
It is dedicated to an Irish saint said to be called Moluag who was a rival to his 6th Century contemporary St Columba. One theory suggests that it was erected by St Ronan who later sought more solitude and departed to North Rona.
Sick pilgrims visited the chapel to get rid of afflictions of lunacy or sores. Crucial to the cure was the requirement to drink from the holy well near the church. This was likely to be St Ronan's well which was associated with St Ronan’s Chapel (Teampall Rònaidh) sited about five crofts away and believed to be the earliest Christian church on Lewis.
An ancient ritual, the last of pagan Celtic customs, is associated with Ness and St Moulags. At Halloween, villagers waded into the sea to offered ale to the sea-god Shony and prayed for a good harvest of seaweed to fertilise their crops.
The church sits in the middle of a village croft but public access is allowed via a grass track. The church is used for regular services by a Scottish Episcopal congregation. Eucharist is at 11pm on the first Sunday of the month until September. On the third Sunday of the month a family service is held at 3 pm. A candlelit carol service takes place at Christmas.