The church has a long history in North Uist. A short walk from our current home, the ruins of Teampull na Trionaid bear witness to a centre of Christian worship and learning in the Carinish area dating back to the 13th century.
The first record of a Protestant minister in North Uist dates to 1626.
The Free Church has had a presence in North Uist since 1843, when a large number of those attached to the Church of Scotland left during the event known as The Disruption. Rev Norman MacLeod was the first Free Church minister in North Uist and it was under his ministry that a church and manse were finally built in Paible in 1851.
The current Clachan Church of Scotland was built as a Free Church for the then Carinish Free Church congregation in 1889 under Rev Donald MacLean.
The number and placement of Free Church congregations on the Islands varied over time, and eventually the congregations of North Uist, Berneray, and Grimsay were united into one.
Our present building started off life as the Carinish Inn, with the core of the building dating back to at least the 1700s. Over the years it was expanded and upgraded into a hotel. (image circa 1900)
The building was bought by the congregation, funded by the sale of other church and manse buildings,and converted into a church with a hall and adjoining manse in 2009 and has been in use since.
North Uist Free Church 