 A missionary called Alexander Buchan went to St Kilda in 1705 , but despite his long stay , the idea of organised religion did not take hold . This changed when Rev. John MacDonald , the " Apostle of the North " , arrived in 1822 . He set about his mission with zeal , preaching 13 lengthy sermons during his first 11 days . He returned regularly and raised funds on behalf of the St Kildans , although privately he was appalled by their lack of religious knowledge . The islanders took to him with enthusiasm and wept when he left for the last time eight years later . His successor , who arrived on 3 July 1830 , was Rev. Neil Mackenzie , a resident Church of Scotland minister who greatly improved the conditions of the inhabitants . He reorganised island agriculture , was instrumental in the rebuilding of the village ( see below ) and supervised the building of a new church and manse . With help from the Gaelic School Society , MacKenzie and his wife introduced formal education to Hirta , beginning a daily school to teach reading , writing and arithmetic and a Sunday school for religious education . 
