Ninian

Ninian, St, the first known apostle of Scotland, was born of noble parentage, about 360, on the shores of the Solway Firth. Of studious and ascetic habits, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to make a pilgrimage to Rome, and there, after some years' stay, was consecrated bishop by the pope. On his homeward way he visited St Martin (q.v.) at Tours, and after his arrival in Galloway he founded the 'Candida Casa,' or church of Whithorn, dedicating it to St Martin, the news of whose death had just reached him (397). Later he laboured successfully for the evangelisation of the Southern Picts, and in 432 (according to the Bollandists) died 'perfect in life and full of years,' and was buried in his church at Whithorn. His festival falls on 10th September. His Life by St Ailred (1109-66), abbot of Rievaulx in Yorkshire, who visited Galloway, has been edited by Bishop Forbes (vol. v., 'Historians of Scotland' series, 1874), who enumerates sixty-six dedications in Scotland to St Ninian or 'Ringan'—the Lowland Scotch form of his name—including the Episcopal cathedral at Perth.