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Portal to the Early Church

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The Early church in scotland

The Early Church is defined here as being the church as it was in Scotland from the very earliest days - after Ss Ninian and Patrick established their missions. This, the earliest period in our Church's history, is often called "the Golden Age of the Saints" and it lasted up to the time that a 'Roman' structure was imposed on the Church by the Kings of Scots. There is no exact date when this imposition took place since it happened at different times in different parts of the country, but it corresponded to the first appearance across the fledgling kingdom of parishes and dioceses which had established boundaries.

The Early Church was a missionary church - each tribal settlement was a target for the early missionaries who came, in the main, from Lismore, Applecross, Iona, Ireland and Northumbria. The most appropriate name for these early Christian communities is, of course, muinntir.

The Scottish nation seems determined to neglect the study of this early period in church history. Perhaps it is embarrassed about the church of the Medieval period, before the wonders of the Second Reformation descended! But to be of such a mind is to ignore the pre-eminent part played by our countrymen in the evangelisation of much of Europe.

Many of the sites of these early Christian communities are sadly neglected today - if, indeed, they are even remembered! In other parts of the world they would be revered shrines, subject to the care and prayers of generations of dedicated pilgrims. In Scottish Religion the importance of the Word has over-ridden the importance of the place when, surely, they should be partners. But things may be changing and more and more good people are now seeking out these ancient places of peace and prayer as a counter-balance to the pressures of today's world. 

These sites are ever-present and always available at times when the local kirk is shut up and locked for all but four or five hours of the 168 hours in every week!

SAINTS OF THE NORTH

Here we present a number of biographies of some of the Saints who brought Christianity to the lands north of the Mounth. Some are well-known but others - like St Erchard - are more obscure.

THE BOOK OF DEER

The Book of Deer is one of the most important treasures of Scotland. Currently, it rests in Cambridge University but one day, perhaps, it will be returned to its homeland. It has the oldest surviving examples of Scots Gaelic written in the margins of the pages. It is a fabulous treasure and here we present it in all its glory, with the Gaelic notes and their interpretations.

PICTISH KING LIST

First collected some fifteen years ago, this amalgam of a number of 'primary sources' presents a version which illustrates the simplest form of the "Pictish King List". We have recorded, here, the individual kings about whose lives historians are currently fairly confident. But there is much research going on that may produce alterations and ammendments in the future.

ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY

A brief introduction to the pathway by which Christianity reached the Pictish tribes of the north-east of Scotland.

ABBOTS OF IONA

It is quite possible that the island of Iona is one of the most famous religious sites in the world raking alongside the Vatican, Lourdes, Hagia Sophia, etc. Always led by an 'ab' ("abbot", but more correctly translated as "father") Iona has had a often stormy history through the ages and the individuals who have held the office of ab have had to be men of an extraordinarily resilient character. This list of abbots includes all of those known between 547AD (St Columba) to 854AD (Innrechtach) and many of those up to 1099AD (Dunchad Mac Mic Maonach).

THE DAWN OF MONASTICISM

The story of the first days of monasticism is an important one for the Universal Church but, for the Early Church in Scotland it is of immeasurable influence. The first Christians undoubtedly came with the Roman Legions. However, even before their standards had disappeared from our shores, St Ninian, a pupil of St Martin of Tours, was busy establishing the first foundations of monasticism.

THE FUNCTION OF BISHOPS

If ever there was a topic that has been treated as shockingly, by generations of historians, then we have yet to encounter it! And we are, even in these 'modern' times, still beset with the lingering attitudes of bitterness (aye, even hatred) at the very idea of episcopacy that were planted in Scottish hearts by presbyterian thought and teaching. But the early bishops - the Episcopi Vagantes - were men of real character worthy of a place at any hearth!

DOWNLOADABLE ARTICLES

One of our principal aims is to provide access to a steadily increasing number of articles that relate to the Early Church in Scotland and which have not been published elsewhere. We invite you to download an article and would look forward to any feedback you might like to provide.