Steinscholl

   STEINSCHOLL, a quoad sacra parish, partly in the parish of Snizort, but chiefly in that of Kilmuir, Isle of Skye, county of Inverness, 16½ miles (N. by W.) from Portree; containing 1542 inhabitants, of whom 1455 are in Kilmuir. This parish, which was separated for ecclesiastical purposes from the parishes of Kilmuir and Snizort by act of parliament passed in 1844, is about fourteen miles in extreme length and nearly four miles in breadth, comprising an area of 18,900 acres. The surface is diversified with hills, and watered by numerous springs, of which some are supposed to possess chalybeate properties. Within the last few years, a spring has been discovered of which the water, on analysis, was found to contain muriates of lime and potash, sulphates of soda, lime, and magnesia, and peroxide of iron. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Skye and synod of Glenelg: the minister's stipend is £120 per annum, paid from the government exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe: patron, the Crown. The church, erected at the expense of government in 1828, is a neat structure containing 350 sittings, all of which are free. Divine service is generally performed in the Gaelic, but occasionally in the English, language. An itinerating Gaelic school, for which a house has been built by the inhabitants, is supported by the Gaelic School Society; and a school for which a building has been erected by the heritor, at a cost of £200, was at first supported by the General Assembly, but is now maintained by the government as a parochial school.