Religion in the Outer Hebrides

From the introduction of Christianity to the Outer Hebrides to the present day, the Christian religion (in its various denominations) has been central to island life. Prior to Christianity's arrival, several sites around the islands have been conjectured to be linked with pagan worship, such as the Callanish Stones.

The Christian religion has deep roots in the Western Isles, but owing mainly to the different allegiances of the clans in the past, the people in the northern islands (Lewis, Harris, North Uist) have historically been predominantly Protestant, and those of the southern islands (Benbecula, South Uist, Barra) predominantly Roman Catholic. There are also small Episcopalian congregations in Lewis, though many of their members originate outside the islands^{[citation needed]}.

The northern parts of the Western Isles (particularly Lewis and Harris) have been described as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism in Britain with large numbers of inhabitants belonging to the Free Church of Scotland or the still more conservative Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Services in the Free Church, the Free Presbyterian Church and some congregations of the Church of Scotland do not use instrumental music or any songs other than the metrical psalms.

It has also generally been considered unacceptable for people to appear in church improperly dressed, although this is slowly changing. Violations of this nature might include the failure by women to wear a hat, or trousers being worn instead of a skirt, or the wearing of informal clothing such as jeans. In December 2005 the local council refused to conduct ceremonies for same-sex couples wishing to register under the Civil Partnerships Act 2004.

Catholicism in the Western Isles

The 2001 Scottish census shows that the people of the southern islands are overwhelmingly Catholic. South Uist, the second-most populated of the Western Isles, was 72.2% Catholic while Barra was even moreso at 80.2% Catholic. The sparsely populated islands of Eriskay (89.5%) and Vatersay (68.1%) are also heavily Catholic while Benbecula is nearly evenly divided between Catholics (42.8%) and Protestants (41.6%). Notably, the southern islands of the Outer Hebrides are the most Catholic parts of all of Scotland. The four most Catholic census area statistics (CAS) wards in the entire country are in the Western Isles:

CAS Ward	Island(s)	% Catholic
Daliburgh and Eriskay	South Uist/Eriskay	82.3
Barra and Vatersay	Barra/Vatersay	79.3
Loch Eynort	South Uist	68.1
Eochar	South Uist/Benbecula	65.5

Religion in Lewis

St Columba's Church, Aignish, Isle of Lewis

Religion is important in Lewis, with much of the population belonging to one of five Presbyterian churches represented on the Island: the Free Church, the Free Church (Continuing), a congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches, the Free Presbyterian Church and the Church of Scotland. While Presbyterianism dominates Lewis, other denominations and other religions have a presence with a Scottish Episcopal (Anglican) church, a Roman Catholic church, a LDS Church and a Jehovah's Witness kingdom hall all present in Stornoway. A small Asian community beginning in the 1930s and reaching 300 at its peak introduced Islam to the islands. This community had fallen to eight families on Lewis (and one family on Harris) by 2010 so there is no immediate prospect of a mosque on the island. [1] [2]

The Christian Sabbath is generally observed but some shops and licensed premises are open on that day (Sunday), although since 2002 there is a scheduled air service to mainland Scotland and since July 2009 a limited ferry service.

Stornoway Sabbath

Stornoway, like the northern (Protestant) Western Isles as a whole, has a tradition of adherence to the Sabbath (Christian observance - on Sundays). As Stornoway, with the majority of the island's services, shops and businesses, undergoes the most visible change on a Sunday it is often seen as a focal point for the issue.

In recent years an increasing number of transport services have begun operating on a Sunday. The first Sunday air service began in October 2002 and was met by protests from church groups under the banner of the Lord's Day Observance Society. The Sunday air services have expanded – there are now two return flights to Inverness and one to Glasgow – as well as becoming generally more accepted.

Ferry travel on Sundays from Lewis and Harris was initially possible after Caledonian MacBrayne introduced a Sunday service for the Sound of Harris ferry. The introduction of this service was not directly met with protests, but an opposing petition was signed by a significant majority of the local (South Harris) population^{[citation needed]}.

It was announced on 14 July 2009 that Caledonian MacBrayne would begin to operate Sunday sailings from Sunday 19 July 2009. Before this, they would operate additional sailings on Sundays if several previous sailings have been cancelled, to allow the backlog of traffic to clear. Caledonian MacBrayne have said that they took legal advice that not implementing Sunday sailings would be against human rights legislation. Objections on religious grounds were raised to Caledonian MacBrayne's decision to commence ferry operations on Sundays.

There are still marked differences between Sundays on Lewis and Harris and those elsewhere in Britain^{[citation needed]} and this particular example of Sunday observance only survives here^{[citation needed]}, with the Sabbath continuing to be considered a day of rest. Opposition to a more cosmopolitan Sunday is not exclusively for religious reasons, though the strong Presbyterian (mainly Free Church) makeup of the island undoubtedly is a major force behind campaigns to retain Sunday's peaceful nature^{[citation needed]}.

Hotels and restaurants are generally open along with most bars (some with shorter opening periods). A single Stornoway petrol station, Engebret, and its associated shop, is open from 11am to 4 pm. Another shop is open at Great Bernera. Sunday newspapers are not available as distributors will not work on Sundays.

Statistics

A poll conducted in 2000 showed slightly more than 60% of islanders in favour of having ferry and air travel available on Sundays, though a still larger majority wanted a referendum on such matters – something that has not taken place. The same poll showed a clear majority against the opening of shops on Sunday.

Religion in Harris

Harris has a largely Presbyterian population that practices sabbatarianism and all retail outlets are shut on Sunday. This area has been described as the last bastion of conservative Calvinism in Britain, and possibly Europe, and there was controversy in 2006 when Caledonian MacBrayne decided to commence operating a ferry service on Sundays between Berneray and Harris and in 2010 between Stornoway and the mainland.