Page 26 - LOTN Summer Issue 47 2021

FAITH AND CULTURE

known that some of the psalms were sung there in English. The choir book: ‘Thomas Errington scripsit, 1826-27’.
Vicars Apostolic of England and Wales actually saw fit to issue a Thomas Errington was a younger brother of the English
directive in 1838 forbidding the practice, which must mean that Bishop George Errington, and was a student at Ushaw from
it had become fairly widespread by that time. 1817 to 1823. He suffered poor health, and it appears that he
It seems unlikely that Anglican chant could have been sung was sent to Lismore in the hope that fresh sea air would be of
within the college at Lismore, as it was written to be sung in benefit to him. He seems to have had an enjoyable stay at the
four parts, SATB. The student numbers at Lismore were small; college; a disapproving report circulated at the time described
as far as is known there were never more than a dozen there at him, along with another student and Bishop Macdonald’s niece,
any one time. Before the book arrived at the Scottish Catholic enjoying ‘a gaudeamus of toddy and every good thing from 11
Archives it was kept at the Catholic church in Fort William, not o’clock at night till 3 next morning’.
far from Lismore, and it contains an order of service for Easter A research project into Thomas and his musical activities has
Sunday 1828, as sung at Fort William. Perhaps students from been interrupted by covid restrictions, but has so far shown that
the college could have taken part in this Mass and on other he was a notable organist and musician. After leaving Lismore
occasions at the church, which could well have heard psalms he went to continue his studies in Rome, but sadly his health
sung to Anglican chant. once again deteriorated, and he died there in 1831. Thanks to
So how did this rather revolutionary idea arrive at a small the presence of his choir book, however, we can learn something
isolated seminary on the western fringe of Britain? The answer of his influence, not least the brief practice of Anglican chant in
seems to be supplied by the signature at the end of the manuscript the Scottish Catholic Church.

Tobar Mhoire: Revisiting Mary's wells of grace

BY Caireen Ros

Scotland is saturated in the Christian faith and the Blessed
Virgin Mary has always played a large part in our tradition.
Not only does she help to lead us to her Son but, as Caireen Ros
explains , she can also show us the Scotland we never knew.

hat’s in a name? A name can be personal,
intimate, descriptive, tell you something
about the person it belongs to, or even hint
W at something about those using the name.
Many years ago, on visiting Medjugorje, I was deeply touched
by the affectionate Croatian term ‘Gospa’ used solely for Our
Lady. I remember thinking from what love and devotion must
it have sprung, for a whole people and culture to call on Our
Blessed Mother with such gentle familial intimacy, before
woefully lamenting that this loving tenderness was never shown
to her by my own kin and country.
Or was it?
Indulging my long-held desire to research our true Scottish
Catholic heritage, I’ve been struck by just how closely our
Celtic culture, language and faith were inseparably interwoven Ouer Laidy o’ Aiberdeen; praye for us
over the centuries; interwoven to the extent that there were no to name but a few. The vast number of towns and villages
divisions between faith, prayer and work. To the Gaels, living named after them is evidenced by their Gaelic roots: Tobermory
and breathing was an act of perpetual thanksgiving with every (Tobar Mhoire - Mary’s Well); Crossmyloof (Crois MoLiubha
activity an opportunity to render praise or give thanks. Even the - Cross of St Liubha); St Finnan's Glen (Gleann Fhionnainn);
language itself is infused with a beautiful witness to faith with Kirriemuir (Ceathramh Mhoire - Mary’s Quarter); Kilmarnock
no harsh boundaries between the spiritual and earthly realms. (Cill Mheàrnaig - St Mernòc’s Church). The list goes on.
How my heart soared to discover that we Scots are truly Sprinkle in places like Polmadie (Poll Mac Dè - Pool of the Sons
Catholic to the marrow of our bones and yes, that includes of God); Cater Tobar (St Catherine’s Well, Watten) and Loch
adorning our Blessed Queen with an affectionate name only nan Cilltean / Loch nan Ceall (The Loch of the Churches) and
for her. Alleluia! Mary in Scottish Gaelic is Mairi (a Mhairi). a rich picture of Catholic Scotland begins to emerge.
However, Moire (a Mhoire) is reserved only for our dearest The well which gave rise to my own home town of
Heavenly Mother and is still on the lips of many Gaelic speakers Motherwell (Tobar na Màthar - Well of the Mother) was said
today. to have quenched St Patrick's thirst as he passed on his way to
Her place in our forebearers' hearts and their devotion to her the Roman camp on the banks of the Clyde. Sadly, it is now
and the profusion of saints who walked our land is also evidenced hidden under a road having had its water source cut off in 1883
by the hundreds (thousands..?) of holy wells scattered across our by the sinking of a coal mine. Water trapped in the pit-shaft
country: Banff, Cullen, Cromarty, Tain, Haddington, Rothes, and piped to the pit ponies was still considered to have healing
Turriff, Reay, Kirkcaldy, Melrose, Ladykirk, Alness, Aberdeen properties, even then. The cop-stone is still located in a nearby
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