Hidden Sacred Places of the Catholic Mass: Irish Ecclesiastical Influence in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland

Bishop, H ORCID: 0000-0001-5044-9314 Hidden Sacred Places of the Catholic Mass: Irish Ecclesiastical Influence in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. New Hibernia Review. ISSN 1092-3977 (Accepted)

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Abstract

There have been Irish ecclesiastical influences on Scotland from the earliest of times. In the sixth and seventh centuries Columba and his followers dominated the history of Irish influence in the east of the country and on islands such as Iona and Islay (Swift 1987, 38). Crossing linguistical barriers and political divides the influence of Columbus persisted in Scotland until the eleventh century (Swift 1987, 25). This article looks at Irish influence in respect to sacred places of Catholic worship before, during and after the Penal Era in Scotland. The Jesuits and the Franciscans were the two main religious orders operating across Scotland through various Catholic Missions from the Reformation onwards although other orders such as the Benedictines and Vincentians were active too. In both countries Gaelic peoples experienced repressive penal legislation and were forced to create new places for worship. Whilst much has been written about Catholicism in both countries, few attempt to discuss Irish ecclesiastical influence in Scotland in respect to the sacred places where Mass was celebrated. Through a comparison of sites in both countries, I argue that the movements of priests between Ireland and Scotland encouraged the adoption of hidden sacred places of worship in Scotland that mirrored those used for the celebration of the Catholic Mass in Ireland.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of an article due to published in New Hibernia Review
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2103 Historical Studies; 4705 Literary studies
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	University of St. Thomas
Date of acceptance:	24 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	4 February 2026
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2026 13:57
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2026 13:57
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28040

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