Rachel Evans
The Scottish Highlands are predominantly Protestant, belonging to the Church of Scotland. However, there are significant Catholic strongholds within the Highlands and Islands, such as Moidart, Morar, South Uist, and Barra. The Highlands were historically divided between Catholic and Protestant clans, with the Catholic faith being more prevalent in the northern and western clans. The Catholic Church is especially important in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands, with Scottish Gaelic-speaking areas like Barra, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, and Moidart being mainly Catholic. The remoteness of these regions and the lack of Gaelic-speaking clergy initially hindered missionary efforts, but the later 18th century saw greater success in converting Highlanders to Catholicism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic population in Scotland in 2009 | 850,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland in 2009 | 16.67% |
| Catholic population in the Highlands in 1750 | 12,831 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the Highlands in 1750 | 4.34% |
| Catholic population in the Highlands in 1764 or 1766 | 13,166 |
| Catholic strongholds within the Highlands and Islands | Moidart, Morar, South Uist, Barra, and the Outer Hebrides |
| Other areas in the Highlands and Islands that are mainly Catholic | Barra, Benbecula, Eriskay |
| Areas in the Highlands and Islands that are predominantly Protestant | Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Skye |
| Administrative body for the Highlands | Highland Council |
| Administrative centre of the Highlands | Inverness |
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What You'll Learn
The Highlands are predominantly Protestant
The Scottish Highlands are predominantly Protestant, belonging to the Church of Scotland. In the late Middle Ages, the Scottish Crown gained greater influence over senior appointments in the Church, and two archbishoprics had been established by the end of the 15th century. Despite problems over the number and quality of clergy after the Black Death in the 14th century, and evidence of heresy in the 15th century, the Church in Scotland remained stable.
During the 16th century, Scotland underwent a Protestant Reformation that created a predominantly Calvinist national kirk, which was strongly Presbyterian in outlook. A confession of faith, rejecting papal jurisdiction and the mass, was adopted by Parliament in 1560. The kirk found it difficult to penetrate the Highlands and Islands, but began a gradual process of conversion and consolidation. The Reformation divided the Highland clans into two separate factions: the Protestant and the Catholic. The divided religious loyalties of the Highlanders were to have consequences far into the future.
The Statutes of Iona, passed in 1609, required that Highland Chiefs send their heirs to the lowlands to be educated in English-speaking Protestant schools. As a result, some clans adopted the new religion, while others remained resolutely Catholic. The religious issues of the time were at the root of the Thirty Years' War and the British Civil Wars (1639-1650), which were partly a religious conflict between Scottish Presbyterians and Episcopalians (Anglicans) who were often allied with Catholics.
In the 19th century, the evangelical Free Churches, which were more accepting of Gaelic language and culture, grew rapidly in the Highlands and Islands, appealing much more strongly than the established church. The Free Church of Scotland is now the second-largest Presbyterian denomination in Scotland, with 10,896 people identifying as such in the 2011 census.
Despite the predominance of Protestantism in the Highlands, there remain significant Catholic strongholds within the region, such as Moidart and Morar on the mainland, and South Uist and Barra in the southern Outer Hebrides. Catholicism has had a heavy influence upon Post-Reformation Scottish Gaelic literature.
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Catholic strongholds in the Highlands
The Scottish Highlands is a historical region of Scotland, and the term traditionally refers to the Gaelic-speaking part of the country. The Highlands are predominantly Protestant, belonging to the Church of Scotland. However, there are significant Catholic strongholds within the Highlands and Islands, which include areas on the mainland and in the Outer Hebrides.
On the mainland, Moidart and Morar remain Catholic strongholds. In the 18th century, Fr. Austin MacDonald wrote about the emigration of the people of Knoydart to Canada, and how he continued to administer the sacraments to those who remained. In a letter from Moidart to the Congregation for Propaganda in Rome, he noted that "although not less than 600 Catholics went to America, still I administered the Sacraments to over 500 souls who remained".
In the southern Outer Hebrides, South Uist and Barra are Catholic strongholds. The northern Outer Hebrides islands, including Lewis, Harris, and North Uist, have an exceptionally high proportion of Protestants. The remoteness of these regions and the lack of Gaelic-speaking clergy hindered the missionary efforts of the established church.
Historically, the major social unit of the Highlands was the clan, and the conversion of a chief often led to the conversion of the entire clan. In the early 17th century, the inhabitants of the Black Isle were Protestant, while their Highland neighbours were Catholic. The Statutes of Iona, passed in 1609, required that Highland Chiefs send their heirs to the lowlands to be educated in English-speaking Protestant schools. Some clans, such as the MacDonalds of Sleat and the MacLeods of Harris, adopted the new religion, while others, including the MacDonalds of Clanranald, Keppoch, Glengarry, and Glencoe, remained Catholic.
During the 19th century, the evangelical Free Churches, which were more accepting of Gaelic language and culture, grew rapidly in the Highlands and Islands, appealing much more strongly than the established church. The Free Church of Scotland, which formed in 1843, has a significant proportion of its activity in the Highlands and Islands.
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Catholic emancipation in Scotland
The Catholic Emancipation, or Catholic Relief, was a process in Great Britain and Ireland, and later the United Kingdom, aimed at reducing and removing the legal restrictions on Roman Catholics. The movement took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this period, Catholics in Scotland faced religious persecution and disenfranchisement.
In the late Middle Ages, the Crown gained greater influence over senior appointments in the Church in Scotland, and two archbishoprics were established by the end of the 15th century. Despite a decline in traditional monastic life, the mendicant orders of friars grew, especially in expanding towns. During the 16th century, Scotland underwent a Protestant Reformation, resulting in a predominantly Calvinist national church with a strong Presbyterian outlook. This new church, known as the Kirk, found it difficult to penetrate the Highlands and Islands, but it initiated a gradual process of conversion and consolidation. The Reformation divided the Highland clans into Protestant and Catholic factions, and the clansmen in the north tended to remain loyal to the Catholic faith or followed their chieftains into the Episcopalian Church.
In the 18th century, the Scottish Catholic clergy and laity faced persecution and oppression. The Jacobite rising of 1745 further intensified the persecution faced by Catholics. During this period, many students for the priesthood either left the country or attended illegal seminaries within Scotland. An early seminary on Eilean Bàn in Loch Morar was moved during the Jacobite rising of 1715 and reopened as Scalan seminary in Glenlivet. Despite facing multiple arson attacks by government troops, Scalan was rebuilt in the 1760s by Bishop John Geddes.
The first Relief Act, the Papists Act of 1778, allowed Roman Catholics in Great Britain and Ireland to own property and inherit land, provided they renounced the authority of the Pope. This Act led to riots in Scotland in 1779 and the Gordon Riots in London in 1780. Subsequent acts in 1782 and 1791 further eased restrictions on Catholicism, but significant limitations remained. The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 is considered the most significant measure, as it removed the most substantial restrictions on Roman Catholicism in the United Kingdom. This Act allowed British and Irish Roman Catholics to vote, enter universities, and hold public, political, and military offices. The year 1829 is generally regarded as the chief moment of emancipation in Britain and Ireland.
In Scotland, the successful campaign for Catholic Emancipation in 1829 helped Catholics regain freedom of religion and civil rights. The restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1878 further contributed to the expansion of Catholicism in the country. By the 2011 census, 16% of Scotland's population identified as Catholic, compared to 32% affiliated with the Church of Scotland.
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Highland clans and religious factions
The religious history of Scotland is complex and varied, and the same can be said for the Highland clans. The Reformation divided the Highland clans into two separate factions: the Protestant and the Catholic. However, it is important to note that the religious beliefs of the clans were not always clear-cut, and there were often divided loyalties among them. While some clans were predominantly Catholic or Protestant, others had a mix of both faiths within their ranks.
In the early 1600s, the Highland neighbours of the Black Isle were Catholic, while the inhabitants of the Black Isle itself were Protestant. The Presbyterian Macleans, for example, backed the Jacobites, while the Catholic Keppoch MacDonalds tried to sack the pro-Jacobite town of Inverness. The intervention of a Scottish army on behalf of Ulster Protestants further alienated the Highlanders, as the native Irish were not only their co-religionists but also their relatives in many cases. The Western Highlands and Islands clans, in particular, suffered greatly from the growing power of the Protestant Campbell clan.
The Catholic Church is especially important in parts of the Highlands, and the Gàidhealtachd has been both Catholic and Protestant in modern times. A number of Scottish Gaelic-speaking areas, including Barra, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, and Moidart, are mainly Catholic. The Free Church of Scotland, which formed after a schism from the Church of Scotland in 1843, also has a significant presence in the Highlands and Islands.
Highlanders were strongly inclined to follow the lead of their chiefs when it came to religion, and the conversion of a chief often led to the conversion of the entire clan. Archibald, the fourth Earl of Argyll and Chief of Clan Campbell, was an early convert to the Protestant faith, and his son continued to energetically support the new religion after his death in 1558. The Statutes of Iona, passed in 1609, required that Highland Chiefs send their heirs to the lowlands to be educated in English-speaking Protestant schools, which led to some clans, such as the MacDonalds of Sleat and the MacLeods of Harris, adopting the new religion.
In summary, the religious affiliations of the Highland clans were complex and varied, with some clans remaining loyal to the Catholic faith, while others converted to Protestantism or had a mix of both faiths within their ranks. The religious beliefs of the clans were often influenced by the decisions of their chiefs, and external factors such as the growing power of the Campbell clan and the intervention of a Scottish army on behalf of Ulster Protestants. Today, the Catholic Church continues to have a significant presence in parts of the Highlands, with several Gaelic-speaking areas being mainly Catholic.
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Catholic influence on Scottish Gaelic literature
Scottish literature includes works in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Brythonic, French, Latin, Norn, and other languages written within the modern boundaries of Scotland. Scottish Gaelic-speaking areas, including Barra, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, and Moidart, are mainly Catholic.
The Catholic Church has had a significant influence on Scottish Gaelic literature. Initially, literature in Scotland was written in Latin under the influence of the Catholic Church. In the following centuries, there was literature in Latin, influenced by the Catholic Church, and in Old English, brought by Anglian settlers. As Scotland developed into a kingdom from the eighth century, a literary elite emerged that regularly produced texts in both Gaelic and Latin, sharing a common literary culture with Ireland and elsewhere.
During the 16th century, Scotland underwent a Protestant Reformation, creating a predominantly Calvinist national church with a strong Presbyterian outlook. However, Catholicism continued to thrive covertly in certain areas, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, where it was supported by noble families, local lairds, or Scottish clan chiefs. In these regions, Catholic sacraments were administered by disguised and outlawed priests.
The Highland Clearances and widespread emigration significantly weakened Gaelic language and culture and had a profound impact on Gaelic poetry. Emigration resulted in Gaelic communities abroad, particularly in Canada and the United States, which produced a large body of Scottish Gaelic literature outside of Scotland.
Despite the challenges, Gaelic literature continued to flourish. James Macpherson, a Scottish poet, gained international recognition by translating ancient Gaelic poetry, claiming it to be the equivalent of Classical epics. This helped inspire a new form of nature poetry in Gaelic, focusing on the natural world and ancient legends.
In addition, Catholic priests made significant contributions to Gaelic literature. Father Ewen MacEachan produced a highly acclaimed translation of the New Testament into the Arisaig dialect of Scottish Gaelic, published in 1875. He also translated and published works such as "The Imitation of Christ" and "The Spiritual Combat" into Scottish Gaelic.
In conclusion, while Scotland underwent a Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Catholicism continued to exert influence on Scottish Gaelic literature. The Catholic Church's early influence on Latin literature, the persistence of Catholicism in certain regions, and the contributions of Gaelic-speaking priests and poets have all played a role in shaping this unique literary tradition within Scotland.
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Frequently asked questions
While the Highlands are predominantly Protestant, there are significant Catholic strongholds within the Highlands and Islands, such as Moidart, Morar, South Uist, Barra, and the southern Outer Hebrides.
In the 17th century, the majority of Highlanders were Catholic, with a small minority following the Protestant faith. However, by the 18th century, the proportion had shifted significantly, with only 4.34% of Highlanders being Catholic, according to Dr Webster's investigation in 1750.
Catholicism has had a significant influence on the culture and literature of the Highlands, particularly among Gaelic-speaking communities. The remoteness of the region and the lack of a Gaelic-speaking clergy initially hindered missionary efforts, but the later success of missionaries from the SSPCK, as well as the disruption of traditional society after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, contributed to the spread of Catholicism in the region.
