 At one time , three churches stood on Hirta . Christ Church , in the site of the graveyard at the centre of the village , was in use in 1697 and was the largest , but this thatched @-@ roof structure was too small to hold the entire population , and most of the congregation had to gather in the churchyard during services . St Brendan 's Church lay over a kilometre away on the slopes of Ruival , and St Columba 's at the west end of the village street , but little is left of these buildings . A new kirk and manse were erected at the east end of the village in 1830 and a Factor 's house in 1860 . 
