Ternan
Encyclopedia
Saint Ternan is venerated as the "Bishop of the Picts
." Not much is known of his life. He may have been consecrated by St. Palladius. Some scholars believe that he may have been a monk at Culross
, which had been founded by St. Serf, and that he was a contemporary of Serf. Others state that he was a follower of St. Ninian.
Ternan, is believed to have been born in Fordoun in Angus about AD 440. He established a small monastery on the north side of the River Dee near the current graveyard in what is now the town of Banchory
. As well as preaching the Christian gospel, he and his followers taught the local people farming, arts and crafts. Churches in Banchory and surrounding area bear the name of St Ternan.
The story of Ternan features two key artifacts, his copy of Matthew's Gospel and his bell or "Ronnecht":
The "Aberdeen Martyrology" mentions "the Gospel of Matthew
belonging to St. Ternan", which was enshrined in a metal case or cumdach
(book shrine)and is said to have remained in Banchory until the reformation. The bell has an altogether more interesting story. It is said to have been brought to Banchory from Rome by Ternan, and is last recorded as being transferred to the custody of Alexander Symson, vicare of Banquhoriterne in 1491. When the glebe being excavated for the railway in 1863 an old bronze bell was found. It is not clear if this really is Ternan's bell, but it now hangs on the front wall of Banchory Ternan East Church
as a visible reminder of the debt that is owed to this early pioneer of Christianity in Scotland
He is mentioned, along with Saints Brendan, Michael etc, in some blessings and incantations, such as the milking croon from South Uist, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Hebrides in the 1880s.
St Ternan's feast day is June 12 and he is still celebrated on this holiday in Banchory with St Ternan's Fair
which is held on the closest Saturday.
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
." Not much is known of his life. He may have been consecrated by St. Palladius. Some scholars believe that he may have been a monk at Culross
Culross
The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland.According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395...
, which had been founded by St. Serf, and that he was a contemporary of Serf. Others state that he was a follower of St. Ninian.
Ternan, is believed to have been born in Fordoun in Angus about AD 440. He established a small monastery on the north side of the River Dee near the current graveyard in what is now the town of Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
. As well as preaching the Christian gospel, he and his followers taught the local people farming, arts and crafts. Churches in Banchory and surrounding area bear the name of St Ternan.
The story of Ternan features two key artifacts, his copy of Matthew's Gospel and his bell or "Ronnecht":
The "Aberdeen Martyrology" mentions "the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
belonging to St. Ternan", which was enshrined in a metal case or cumdach
Cumdach
A cumdach or book shrine is an elaborate ornamented box or case used as a reliquary to enshrine books regarded as relics of the saints who had used them in Early Medieval Ireland...
(book shrine)and is said to have remained in Banchory until the reformation. The bell has an altogether more interesting story. It is said to have been brought to Banchory from Rome by Ternan, and is last recorded as being transferred to the custody of Alexander Symson, vicare of Banquhoriterne in 1491. When the glebe being excavated for the railway in 1863 an old bronze bell was found. It is not clear if this really is Ternan's bell, but it now hangs on the front wall of Banchory Ternan East Church
Banchory Ternan East Church
Banchory Ternan East Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland, a member of the Presbyterian Church. The church building is located in Station Road, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland...
as a visible reminder of the debt that is owed to this early pioneer of Christianity in Scotland
He is mentioned, along with Saints Brendan, Michael etc, in some blessings and incantations, such as the milking croon from South Uist, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Hebrides in the 1880s.
St Ternan's feast day is June 12 and he is still celebrated on this holiday in Banchory with St Ternan's Fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
which is held on the closest Saturday.
External links
- Ternan at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...