Celtic and Roman Church in Medieval Scotland

Celtic and Roman Christianity Supporting Scottish Independence

Jul 14, 2009

In Scotland during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as in most European kingdoms, politics and religion could not be separated.

There remained two forms of Christianity in Scotland during this period – the Celtic Church and the Church of Rome. Celtic Christianity was most strong in the areas where the Celtic culture still flourished: the north and west of the kingdom. The kings of the period: Alexander II, Alexander III and Robert I remained firm adherents of the Celtic culture as a key identifier of the independence of the realm from its avaricious neighbour, England.

National Saints in Scottish History

St. Columba, head of Celtic Christianity enjoyed a particular involvement with Scottish political affairs in establishing an ecclesiastical role in the Scottish inauguration ceremony. This confirmed the notion of divine ordination of Scottish Kings. Later, St. Andrew was to become patron of the Pictish kingdom and, still later, was to achieve a similar status to that of St. Columba, but for the Church of Rome.

Co-existence of Celtic and Roman Churches

Interestingly, given the extent of Rome’s later defence of its privileges, no serious political or violent confrontation occurred between these two churches. Although the Romish clerics may well have voiced horror at the apparent barbarity of the Celtic clergy, there was no one moment of conclusive discord. Despite the elevation of Andrew as patron saint and national focus, the Celtic saints retained their significance and were firmly absorbed into the fabric of Scottish society.

Support for Celtic Saints in thirteenth and fourteenth century Scotland

During the early years of the reign of Alexander III, the new gothic shrine of St. Kentigern was completed and, by 1262 Glasgow Church, which housed the shrine, was entirely finished. Robert the Bruce continued this interest in the Celtic past into his own reign.

Robert Bruce and the Celtic Saints

Bruce’s own patron was the Celtic saint Ninian. Ninian was a saint native to Galloway, from where Bruce’s own mother hailed. In 1328-9, Bruce undertook a pilgrimage, possibly in search of a cure for the debilitating illness that plagued him or in expiation of sins committed. The pilgrimage took him to Whithorn, site of the saint’s chapel and may also have encompassed a visit to St. Ninian’s Cave.

In 1314 Bruce led the Scots army against the English forces at Bannockburn. His men carried both the Brecbennach of Columba and the Flag of St Andrew into battle. In what was to mark a turning point in the long-running dispute, the presence of these images reinforced the Scottish heritage as well as the support of God for the Scottish cause.

M. Ash, ‘The Church in the Reign of Alexander III’ in N. H. Reid (ed.), Scotland in the Reign of Alexander III, 1249-1286, (Edinburgh, 1990)

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