22 March 2025

Believe it or not, the first book to be published in Scotland was not a Bible nor a Psalm Book nor a Prayer Book but a book about the saints. The Aberdeen Breviary contained liturgical material for an assortment of saints’ days. It was published in Edinburgh between 1509 and 1510 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen.

For each feast day, there was a potted biography of the saint which included a bit of local legend and tradition. In the lectiones for St. Patrick, there is an allusion to his birth place at Old Kilpatrick on the Clyde. In addition, there are notes about St. Patrick’s Well and St. Patrick’s Stone which were reputedly located near the kirkyard.

Some don’t agree that Patrick was born in the ancient parish of Kilpatrick. However, Alan Macquarrie makes an interesting point. The name ‘Kilpatrick’ contains the Gaelic ‘cill’, cell or church together with the saint’s name, Patrick – the Church of Patrick.

If Kilpatrick didn’t mark his birthplace, it was certainly the focus of a thriving cult of St. Patrick by the end of the ninth century.  Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims travelled to St. Patrick’s Well and the reputed place of his baptism.

Dr. McCardel makes two important points in his celebrated history of New Kilpatrick Parish. Firstly, Patrick’s most important work was done among the Scots who eventually crossed over from Ireland and gave our nation its name.

Secondly, Patrick was a bit like John the Baptist. Whilst he didn’t minister nor evangelise in Scotland himself, he prepared the way for others like St. Columba to come here from Ireland and work for the conversion of our nation!