Saint Baldred
Saint Baldred of Tyninghame (died March 6, 756 AD) was a Scottish monk and hermit associated with the coastline of East Lothian in Scotland, particularly with the communities of Tyninghame, Auldhame, and the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth. He was a disciple of Saint Kentigern (Mungo) in some traditions, or alternatively an independent missionary monk who settled in the Lothians and evangelized the area in the eighth century. He is venerated as the Apostle of the Lothians and is commemorated alongside Saint Balther, another hermit of the same region. His feast day is March 6.
Saint Baldred's cult was significant enough in the medieval period that three different communities claimed his body after his death—a dispute that is said to have been miraculously resolved when the body was found to have multiplied into three identical bodies, one for each claimant. This story, while legendary in character, reflects the strength and geographic spread of his veneration in the Lothians.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Baldred
| Saint Baldred | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 06 |
| Profession | Monk; hermit; missionary |
| Rel. Affiliation | Celtic Church of Scotland |
| Patronage | Lothians; East Lothian |
| Attributes | Monk's habit; the Bass Rock |
| Birthplace | Scotland or Ireland (exact location uncertain) |
| Death Place | Tyninghame, East Lothian, Scotland |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Saint Baldred was an eighth-century monk who settled on the coast of East Lothian in Scotland and spent his life there in prayer, pastoral ministry, and contemplation. He is particularly associated with three sites: the village of Tyninghame, the settlement of Auldhame, and the dramatic volcanic rock known as the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth—where he reportedly lived as a hermit for a period, exposed to the wind and sea.
The earliest hagiographic accounts place him within the tradition of Celtic Christianity, with its emphasis on the hermit life, love of remote natural places, and the sanctification of the created world through prayer. Several churches in East Lothian were dedicated to him in the medieval period.
After his death on March 6, 756 AD, three communities—Tyninghame, Auldhame, and Aldham (Prestonkirk)—each claimed the right to his relics. The legend that his body miraculously multiplied into three identical forms, allowing each community to have a complete body, is a hagiographic commonplace of the medieval period applied to beloved saints whose relics were disputed.
Significant events
- Settled on the coast of East Lothian, Scotland; lived as monk, hermit, and missionary.
- Lived for a time as a hermit on the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth.
- Died March 6, 756 AD at Tyninghame; three communities claimed his relics.
- Feast established on March 6.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: Tyninghame, East Lothian, Scotland
Notable location: Community where he lived and died; center of his cult (Tyninghame, East Lothian, Scotland)
Notable location: Island rock where he reportedly lived as a hermit (Bass Rock, Firth of Forth, East Lothian, Scotland)
Notable location:
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Feast day
March 6
Veneration
Saint Baldred is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on March 6, particularly in East Lothian and the Lothians region of Scotland.
Prayers
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