Trip to Scotland 1983: Four and half months in the Highlands and Islands

[DCampbell16B]

Sunday

Most meals ready to cook. Lots of sweets in both services. Gaelic at noon. Rev. MacAmhlaidh. F brought the girls over tonight. During prayer (20 minutes) older people gradually sit down. Gave lift [home] to Catriona someone and Donald MacCoidhead. Prefer singing in Gaelic.

[The only work allowed was feeding farm animals. "For the poor beasts cannot feed themselves." It was OK to go for a walk on the shore after the service, but that was all.

The Cross Free Church was quite large. If I remember correctly there were 200 to 300 people in each service. The acapella psalm singing was indescribable. In Gaelic the psalm number was announced, with the tune to sing with it. Part of the Gaelic Bible had the Pslams rewritten in a metrical form. The precentor lined out the words before the whole church took them up. In English this was not done, although it the singing was still acapella. The hymnal had no music, only words. The hymn and the tune to use with it were announced.
I read several of Lilian Beckwith's books on living in Skye just after World War II. One of the things I remembered was her comment that during the sermon everybody seemed to eat peppermint. I was tickled that the same happened in Cross. The moment the sermon started I could hear cellophane wrappers all around me as the peppermints were unwrapped. And I was handed one, too.]