'Ninian has helped shape your life. His legacy is our heritage': Retired journalist to give talks at Timespan in Helmsdale on Scotland's first missionary
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Scotland’s first missionary St Ninian, who planted the first church in Sutherland, is to be commemorated in two talks taking place next Saturday, September 15, and the following Saturday, September 23.
Retired broadcast journalist Audrey Munro, of Helmsdale, has compiled information on the saint from books and articles by his 20th century biographer, Rev Dr Archibald Scott.
As well as serving as Helmsdale’s minister for more than 50 years, Dr Scott was also a renowned expert on the early Celtic Church.
Audrey said: “It’s been such a privilege to go through Dr. Scott’s works which feature Ninian, and see his knowledge and expertise deepen over nearly 30 years of research.”
She prepared the talks in 2020 to commemorate the anniversary of Ninian’s arrival at Navidale, just north of Helmsdale c.420 AD, but they were called off because of the covid pandemic. They are now being held as part of Timespan’s summer series of local heritage events.
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The first talk, entitled ‘Saint Ninian, the Navidale Missionary who transformed Scotland’ take place on Saint Ninian’s Day. It will set the scene for Ninian’s mission, looking at pre-Christian Britain, Ninian’s early life, life in his missions such as Navidale, and even his position on women in the Church – still a hot topic today.
The following talk ‘Saint Ninian - His 30 Year Journey Among the Picts of Scotland’ follows Ninian’s journey from Galloway to Shetland, focussing on Navidale and the Saint’s other northern foundations at Wick, and on Orkney and Shetland.
The talk will also cover Pictish sculptured stones connecting Ninian and Dr. Scott, and the national commemorations in 1932 marking the 1500th anniversary of the Saint’s death. There are also plans to visit Ninian’s site at Navidale by minibus in the afternoon.
Audrey said: “So, why should Ninian be important to us now, nearly 1600 years after his death? He was Scotland’s first Christian missionary, and his teachings are still part of our national, and part of our daily lives, 16 centuries later. Whether you go to church every week or are a card-carrying atheist, Ninian has helped shape your life. His legacy is our heritage.”
Saint Ninian, the Navidale Missionary who transformed Scotland: September 16, 11am-1pm.
Saint Ninian – His 30 Year Journey Among the Picts of Scotland: September 23, 11am-1pm.
Both at Timespan, Helmsdale. For more information, email: enquiries@timespan.org.uk or ring: 01431 821327
