Saint Ninian
Saint Ninian (born c. 360 AD in Galloway, Scotland; died c. 432 AD in Whithorn, Galloway, Scotland) was a British Christian bishop and missionary who established the first known stone church north of Hadrian's Wall at Whithorn in Galloway (southwestern Scotland), known as Candida Casa (the White House). He is venerated as the Apostle of the Southern Picts and one of the earliest apostles of Christianity in Scotland. His feast day is September 16.
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| Saint Ninian | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 16 |
| Profession | Bishop; missionary; founder of Candida Casa (Whithorn); Apostle of the Southern Picts |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Church of Scotland (historical); early British Christianity; Galloway; first stone church north of Hadrian's Wall; Apostle to the Picts |
| Patronage | Scotland (one of the patron saints); Galloway; the Diocese of Galloway; those who bring Christianity to new peoples; builders of the first Christian communities |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments and crozier; white building (Candida Casa); map of Scotland; Picts in the background; cave (his place of prayer) |
| Birthplace | Galloway, Scotland (traditional) |
| Death Place | Whithorn, Galloway, Scotland |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; he died c. 432 AD at Whithorn, his monastic foundation; he had spent his life establishing the church in southern Scotland and evangelizing the Picts; he died as a bishop |
| Primary Shrine | Whithorn Priory (ruins), Whithorn, Galloway — the site of Candida Casa; medieval priory built over the original foundation; ruins of the priory church and crypt; archaeological museum; pilgrimage site from the 5th century to the present; active ecumenical pilgrimage walks from Glenluce to Whithorn each year; the crypt contains early Christian burials |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); September 16; Feast in Scotland |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in Scotland |
Biography
Ninian was born c. 360 AD in Galloway, of British (Romano-British) origin. According to tradition he traveled to Rome for his formation and was consecrated bishop there before returning to Britain. On his return he visited Saint Martin of Tours, to whom he later dedicated his church.
He established Candida Casa — the "White House" or "Shining House" — at Whithorn in Galloway, c. 397 AD. It was the first known stone church built north of Hadrian's Wall. The historian Bede (writing c. 731 AD) records that it was built "in the manner of the Romans" and that Ninian converted many of the Southern Picts.
He used Whithorn as a base for episcopal and missionary work throughout southern Scotland and among the Pictish people to the north. He is traditionally credited with evangelizing the Southern Picts more than a century before Columba arrived on Iona.
He died c. 432 AD at Whithorn.
His cave retreat on the shore south of Whithorn (St. Ninian's Cave) preserves early Christian carvings and is still visited by pilgrims.
Significant locations
Legend
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Whithorn Priory ruins, Whithorn, Galloway — site of Candida Casa; active pilgrimage site; museum; crypt.
- St. Ninian's Cave, Isle of Whithorn — his prayer retreat; early Christian carvings; open to pilgrims.
Feast day
September 16
Veneration
Saint Ninian is one of the patron saints of Scotland and the founder of Candida Casa — the first stone church north of Hadrian's Wall. He is venerated as the Apostle of the Southern Picts and the first great missionary of Scottish Christianity.
Prayers
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