Early Celtic Saints of Scotland

Before the advent of Roman Catholicism, the Celtic Church spread through all the lands that were later to become Scotland.

The Scottish Church

The Scottish Church draws its origins from the populations who inhabited the lands that became Scotland. In the fourth century, the three Celtic groups living in these territories were the Scots, Picts and Britons, each group being established within its own regions. The common belief in one Church united these populations long before they joined into one kingdom.

Early Celtic Saints as Missionaries

The early Celtic saints who became missionaries in Scotland include Saint Ninian in the fifth century, and Saint Kentigern and Saint Columba in the sixth century. The Christianity which they taught and lived for is based on the original first century teachings of the Apostles.

Christian Worship in Scotland

These Celtic saints were not the object of worship, and they did not teach people to worship other mortal persons, including the saints who had died. There was no worship of images or relics, as the original Faith of the Scottish Church did not deviate from the written Word of the Scriptures.

The Sabbath

In his book The Church in Scotland, Professor James C. Moffatt wrote: “It seems to have been customary in the Celtic churches of early times, in Ireland as well as Scotland, to keep Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, as a day of rest from labour.”

Article written by D. Alexander 7 July 2011


Read more on the early Church in Scotland:
http://celticbritannia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/origins-of-scottish-church.html

Read about Saint Kentigern of Scotland: 
http://celticbritannia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/kentigern-saint-of-scotland.html