Series 1 > Diary of the Reverend John Mill, minister of the parishes of Dunrossness Sandwick and Cunningsburgh in Shetland, 1740-1803. With selections from local records and original documents relating to the district

INTRODUCTION
Ixxiii
in 1593, and continued directly under the minister of Dun-
rossness until 1833, when it was made quoad sacra, with a
resident minister as at present.
3. Church of the Fair Isle.—A small place of worship, suit¬
able, doubtless, for the requirements of the place, seems to have
existed here from early times. Its dedication is not known,
but a small revenue, known as ‘ St. Peter’s Stouk,’ existed of
old. Receipt and discharge for the yearly amount, viz., ‘ seven
Angel Nobles,’ was granted by Earl Patrick Stewart to Mal¬
colm Sinclair of Quendale in 1609. See copy in the Appendix,
No. xl As mentioned in the Diary, the isle could be visited
by the minister only at rare intervals, but of late the Church
of Scotland has endeavoured to maintain a catechist able to
read sermons and be otherwise useful in the absence of an
ordained minister.
Besides the above churches which were in Mill’s time, and
have been for a long period before and after his day, under the
charge of the incumbent of this extended ministry, several other
churches, or cells, or district oratories, were in existence within
the bounds from early ages to times comparatively recent. All
these have been swept into oblivion, leaving only such traces
as may be recovered by the archaeologist. The sites are:—
4. The Church of Cunningshurgh.—This church, situated
at Maill’s Ayre,1 has long since disappeared, but the site,
enclosed by a stone wall, is still preserved as the burying-
ground of the district, where
Each in his narrow cell . . .
The rude forefathers of the hamlets sleep.
The Free Church and manse now stand close by. Relics of
early occupation, both in Pagan and in remote Christian
times, have been brought to light on this spot. Polished
1 Mai/l’s Ayre-. i.e. Mels-Eyrr (Old Northern), beach of a sandbank.