Our island is proud to have offered hospitality to some remarkable Christians later recognized by the Church as saints. There has been quite a few of them, particularly in the early centuries of the Christian era.

Meet the Saints of Bute!

St Ninian, Bishop (died ca. 432). This great missionary of the Brits and Picts in Scotland is  remembered in some placenames on Bute. The small promontory on the Western coast of the island still shows the footings of an early Celtic chapel. Both the promontory and the neighbouring bay bear the name of this saint (St Ninian’s Point and St Ninian’s Bay). The kirk in Port Bannatyne is dedicated to him. There are no records of him having ever been on Bute though. His feast day is on 16th September.

St Macceus (Machai, Mahew) (died ca. 460). He is said to have been a disciple of St Patrick. Apparently he spent most of his life as a monk on Bute. He would have been the first missionary and saint of the island. There is a remote ancient chapel and a site of a Celtic monastery in the North of the island called Kilmichael. While it’s commonly belied the place is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, hugely popular among the Celtic Christians, some say this could be a site related St Macceus. His feast day is on 11th April.

St Brioc (Bruix, Brock), Bishop (died ca. 500). He travelled and preached the Gospel between Ireland, Wales and Scotland before eventually landing in Brittany where he founded some monasteries (Saint-Brieuc). Little is known about his presence on Bute. However he must have been important to the local Christian community as the other medieval parish church (still standing by the High Kirk) was dedicated to St Mary and St Brioc. His yearly fair was popular well into the 19 century. Another kirk on the island, in Port Bannatyne, was dedicated to him. His feast day is 30th April.

St Brendan the Navigator (Brendan of Clonfert), Abbot (died ca. 577). Born in Ireland he received a thourough education in some of the monastic centres of his native country before eventually crossing over to Scotland where he founded a monastery (still visible) on the remote island called Eileach an Naoimh (Rock of the Saint). He may have founded another monastery on Bute and he’s believed to be the Patron Saint of the island. Up to this day the residents of Bute who were born on the island and whose both parents came from here are called Brandanes. Brandanes is also the name of the island’s football team. One of the kirks on the island (Craigmore) bore St Brendan’s name. His feast day is on 16th May.

St Catan (Cathan, Cattan), Bishop (died 6th century). He was probably of Irish origin. He lived on Bute for the greater part of his life. He led a monastic life on the island near the village of Kingarth and was instrumental in fostering a religious vocation of his more famous nephew, St Blane whom he trained and ordained to the priesthood. There was a chapel dedicated to him, possibly on the premices of the current farm of Little Kilchattan (Gaelic: Cille Chatain, chapel of Catan). Some other places in that part of the island still bear his name: Kilchattan village and bay as well as the prominent hill still called in the native Gaelic: Suidhe Chatain (Seat of Catan). His feast day is on 17th May.

St Blane (Blaan), Bishop (died ca. 590). He’s believed to born on Bute. Educated by his uncle, St Catan who already lived as a monk on this island, he became a monk himself. Apart from some years spent in Ireland and on the Scottish mainland (Dunblane) he led a monastic life on Bute in a most beautiful spot where the remains of his monastery and the medieval parish church subsequently built on it are still to be seen in the Southern tip of the island. His feast day is on 12th August.

St Marnock (Marnan), Bishop (died 625). Another of the Celtic monks and missionaries must have passed through the area. Apart from some dedications to this saint on the mainland an entire island off Bute bears his name, Inchmarnock (Gaelic: Innis Mheàrnaig). His feast day is on 1st March.

St Molaise (Molios, Laserian), Abbot (died ca. 639). Originally from Ireland, he became a hermit in Scotland and founded his hermitage on the Holy Isle (Molaise’s Island), just off the Isle of Arran. It is uknown whether he ever crossed over to Bute, but his name is remembered in some placenames e.g. Ardmaleish (Gaelic: Àirde MoLaise), a small promontory not far from Port Bnnatyne. His feast day is 18th April.

St Colmac (Colman, Calmag). Nothing is known of this saint and his connection to Bute apart from an ancient Christian site dedicated to his name. His chapel is long gone, but St Colmac’s cross is still standing in a field within the boudaries of the settlement called Kilmachalmaig (St Colmac). The cross most likely represents a Bronze Age standing stone with an ornate cross of unsual design carved on the face. There is still a ruin of a kirk, St Colmac’s Church, with quite a picturesque graveyeard called Cnoc-an-Rath. To the South St Colmac’s Burn makes its way into the famous Ettric Bay.

The photo above shows the ruins of St Blane, and our thanks to Wikipedia for the image. Follow the link to learn more.