STEINSCHOLL, a quoad sacra parish, partly in the
parish of Snizort, but chiefly in the parish of Kilmuir, Isle of
Skye, county of Inverness, l6i 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 under the 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.
Its surface is diversified with hills, and watered by numerous
springs, some of which are supposed to possess
chalybeate properties. Within the last few years, a
spring has been discovered the water of which, on analysis,
was found to contain muriates of lime and potash, sulphates
of soda, lime, and magnesia, and peroxide of iron.
Steinscholl is in the presbytery of Skye and synod of
Glenelg: the minister's stipend is £120 per annum, paid
from the 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. Divine service is generally performed in the
Gaelic, but occasionally in the English, language. A
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 government
as a parochial school: the master's salary is £30,
paid from the exchequer, and he has a garden.