- Rodel Latitude: 57.7445° N Longitude: 6.9676° W
- Rodel Postcode HS5
- Rodel WOEID 33465
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Rodel at the south east tip of Harris some 2.5 miles from Leverburgh and backed by Roneval (1,506 ft), one of the island's few real hills, has a pier (noted for its fishing facilities), but its outstanding attraction is the Church of St Clement's, a gem of architecture and stone carving.
Built in 1500, the church has strong associations with Iona Cathedral, as some of the stone is apparently identical with the stone from Mull used at Iona.
Set on a small hill overlooking its bay and the Sound of Harris, St Clement’s was built as a chapel and MacLeod burial place by Alastair Crotach, 8th Chief of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, in Skye, and his tomb, probably designed by himself, is the most remarkable in the church.
On the south side of the choir and recessed into the wall, the tomb was set up in l528, Under a richly carved pointed arch with biblical and hagiographical scenes and above the efiigy of the MacLeod Chief in armour are Latin inscriptions, a fanciful religious panel and Celtic hunting scene.
The church, splendidly restored by the Countess of Dunmore in l873, is cruciform, with a sturdy square tower, has a nave, choir and two transeptal aisles, and there is some interesting Celtic ornamentation, it is the only cruciform medieval church in the Western Isles.
St Clement’s is in the care of the Department of the Environment, which provides a leaflet on the sculptured tombs and other points of interest. and the key may be obtained from Rodel Hotel.