Saint Ternan (fl. fifth or sixth century) is venerated as the "Bishop of the Picts". Not much is known of his life. Different historians place him either at the mid-fifth century or the latter part of the sixth. Those who place him in the earlier period, associate him with Palladius.[1]
Ternan 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.[4] Churches in Banchory and surrounding area bear the name of St Ternan.
Ternan became bishop of the southern Picts, and lived at Abernethy.[5] He ordained Irchard, who assisted him in his missionary labors.
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).[2]
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, vicar 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.[6]
He is mentioned, along with Saints Brendan, Michael etc., in some blessings and incantations, such as the milking croon of South Uist, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Hebrides in the 1880s.
St Ternan's feast day is 12 June and he is still celebrated on this holiday in Banchory with St Ternan's Fair which is held on the closest Saturday.
There was a chapel dedicated to Saint Ternan on Taransay, but it was destroyed by coastal erosion in the 1970s.
^Scottish Notes and Queries (John Bulloch, John Alexander Henderson, eds.) D. Wyllie and Son, 1895, p. 79
^ abGrattan-Flood, William. "St. Ternan." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 9 December 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Butler, Alban. "Saint Ternan, Bishop of the Picts, Confessor". Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 15 June 2013 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"St. Ternan", Banchory Community Website 2009-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
^Barrett, Michael (18 July 2020), A Calendar of Scotish Saints, BoD – Books on Demand, p. 50, ISBN978-3-7523-2290-3, retrieved 15 July 2021
^About Banchory - A New Descriptive and Historical Guide, Dr Gordon Walkden, 1987
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Ternan". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External linksedit
Banchory Ternan East Parish Parish Church (official website)
January 01, 1970
ternan, saint, fifth, sixth, century, venerated, bishop, picts, much, known, life, different, historians, place, either, fifth, century, latter, part, sixth, those, place, earlier, period, associate, with, palladius, saintbornfordoun, aberdeenshire, scotlandfe. Saint Ternan fl fifth or sixth century is venerated as the Bishop of the Picts Not much is known of his life Different historians place him either at the mid fifth century or the latter part of the sixth Those who place him in the earlier period associate him with Palladius 1 SaintTernanBornFordoun Aberdeenshire ScotlandFeast12 June Contents 1 Life 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksLife editTernan is believed to have been born in Fordoun in Aberdeenshire and may have been converted by the followers of Ninian He was educated at Candida Casa in Whithorn and baptised by a Celtic cleric named Paulinus A contemporary of Saint Serf 2 according to Alban Butler Ternan was a monk at Culross which had been founded by St Serf 3 Ternan 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 4 Churches in Banchory and surrounding area bear the name of St Ternan Ternan became bishop of the southern Picts and lived at Abernethy 5 He ordained Irchard who assisted him in his missionary labors 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 2 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 vicar 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 6 He is mentioned along with Saints Brendan Michael etc in some blessings and incantations such as the milking croon of South Uist collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Hebrides in the 1880s St Ternan s feast day is 12 June and he is still celebrated on this holiday in Banchory with St Ternan s Fair which is held on the closest Saturday There was a chapel dedicated to Saint Ternan on Taransay but it was destroyed by coastal erosion in the 1970s nbsp St Ternan s Banchory nbsp St Ternans Episcopal Church Muchalls nbsp St Ternan s ArbuthnottSee also editTrumwine of AbercornReferences edit Scottish Notes and Queries John Bulloch John Alexander Henderson eds D Wyllie and Son 1895 p 79 a b Grattan Flood William St Ternan The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 14 New York Robert Appleton Company 1912 9 December 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Butler Alban Saint Ternan Bishop of the Picts Confessor Lives of the Fathers Martyrs and Principal Saints 1866 CatholicSaints Info 15 June 2013 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain St Ternan Banchory Community Website Archived 2009 02 06 at the Wayback Machine Barrett Michael 18 July 2020 A Calendar of Scotish Saints BoD Books on Demand p 50 ISBN 978 3 7523 2290 3 retrieved 15 July 2021 About Banchory A New Descriptive and Historical Guide Dr Gordon Walkden 1987 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 St Ternan Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company External links editBanchory Ternan East Parish Parish Church official website Banchory Community Website St Ternan history page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ternan amp oldid 1223134358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
