Saint Ninian's Chapel, Isle of Whithorn
The chapel was repaired and partly rebuilt in 1898 by the Marquess of Bute, its main features being preserved.
The present ruins are rectangular, measuring internally 31' x 16' 6".
This building was probably erected to replace a 12th-early 13th century chapel, whose foundations were found during excavations and consisted of a nave, 17' 6" x 16' 6" with a square chancel.
The chapel stood within a contemporary enclosure wall, part of which is still standing.
An outer enclosure may have once existed, best seen in oblique sunlight, defining a roughly oval area 100' x 110'. This outer enclosure may be of the Celtic period.
There are no records of the chapel's use as a burial ground.
Saint Ninian is chiefly remembered at Whithorn, however many places in Scotland are associated with his name, such as Saint Ninian's Isle in the River Garnock near Kilwinning. He converted the Southern Picts and therefore journeyed through many areas in southern Scotland.
Read more about this topic: Isle Of Whithorn
Famous quotes containing the words saint and/or isle:
“Upon Saint Crispins day
Fought was this noble fray,
Which fame did not delay
To England to carry.
On when shall Englishmen
With such acts fill a pen,
Or England breed again
Such a King Harry?”
—Michael Drayton (15631631)
“It is so rare to meet with a man outdoors who cherishes a worthy thought in his mind, which is independent of the labor of his hands. Behind every mans busy-ness there should be a level of undisturbed serenity and industry, as within the reef encircling a coral isle there is always an expanse of still water, where the depositions are going on which will finally raise it above the surface.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)