You are here: The Past > Religion and Culture Religion and Culture In the 18th century ministers or missionaries were sent to the islands on a more regular basis. A church and manse were built in the early 19th century for a resident minister, and there was a school from 1884. The children in the school Photograph: The National Trust for Scotland The St Kildans were of Hebridean stock and spoke Gaelic. They dressed in a manner similar to people from the Western Isles. In 1697 Martin Martin recorded that they loved music and games, but by the late nineteenth century their adherence to the Free Church of Scotland led to a less joyful life. St Kildan women in 1886 Photograph: George Washington Wilson Collection, University of Aberdeen