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The History of the Church in Mackay Country

By Reverend John Mann

Funeral Traditions

 

Memories from Tongue and Farr

 

People kept shrouds in the houses in them days.  They kept the linen – that was kept specially for somebody that was going to die and, as I say, because there was so many older people in the homes in them days it was inevitable somebody was going to, you know, and then that sheets were kept and a shroud in the house, always.  And women dressed the remains in the house. 

 

The men carried the coffin.  They had so many men.  They walked in two rows, like single-file and somebody walked in front who did the call for the changeover.  Again, there was a Gaelic word they used and they did a changeover. 

 

At one period, they walked from Kirtomy to Clachan for burials.  They walked from Armadale to Clachan or Strathy.  They used to come in past the FBI – right in front of the FBI.  It is a Right-of-way to the cemetery, and apparently they wouldn’t come across the bridge because they had already crossed a bridge and there was some superstition about crossing water twice.  This was the way they came across, so that bit still has to be left open, at the FBI there, because it’s a Right-of-way to the graveyard. 

 

Kinlochbervie Harbour Fish Market   Church of Scotland Sale of Work

Marion Rookes (Head Teacher, Kinlochbervie Primary School), Mary Morrison, Elizabeth Macleod, Effice Campbell, M Davidson.  Kindly donated by: Effie Campbell     ED20D11

 

 

Mostly the women stayed in the house and saw to the victuals for after the people came back.

 

In the old days they would have had a service at the house.  They still have that here - this service the night before or a couple of nights before the burial, and my mother said they didn’t do it in Tongue when she was young …that it was only when she moved to live down here that they did this. 

 

I know they say “the kisting”, that’s one word that they use, “kisting”, which is just putting you in your coffin, really, isn’t it?

 

Women - not only have they started going to the graveyard, they’ve now started taking cords and, you know, being part of the thing.   I think it’s just the whole change with the whole feminist thing, isn’t it, really?  And it’s quite good, I think.  But some people are still, you know, “Oh, well, now, I don’t think myself that that should be the way,” but they can’t give you a real reason why it shouldn’t be, you know.

Scourie Free Church  20/1/95

Mary's marriage to Leslie Hathaway

Mary Mackay and her father, Uisdean Mackay (known as 'Hugh')

Kindly donated by: Mrs Mary Hathaway      ED57S

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