is situated near Balivanich and named after St. Columba. The island is believed to have been evangelised by St. Ternan, a Columban monk, who came ashore near Balivanich.


Celtic monks and nuns were present on the island in the middle ages. The present Church carries the name of the ruined mediaeval chapel in Nunton, St. Mary's. In the late 1700s, there was a thatched chapel in Balivanich, and then later, another thatched chapel was built in the east of Griminish.



                                             Interior of St. Mary's Church

      
It was in the 19th century that the present site, Cnoc Fhraochaig, was chosen to build the present Church, opened in 1884. Since then, the island has been served by a succession of priests, resident on Benbecula. Prior to this, the parish was served by priests from South Uist who had to cross the ford to reach the island - no easy task in the pre-causeway days!

                                                                          
Today, St. Mary's is a busy island parish, covering Benbecula & North Uist,  serving three primary schools, one secondary school and a hospital. Rooted in the proud traditions of the past, the parish has flourished and will continue to flourish in the years to come.