Mission Blog #57

Paisley Abbey, 'Cradle of the Stewart Kings'

One of the blessings of being Senior Couple Member and Leader Support Missionaries, is an opportunity to go on sight seeing outings from time to time. These normally occur on our 'preparation day' which is Saturday, but there are some weeks when our PDay is taken with other duties. What I'm saying is - we have flexibility in our schedule, and we love that. We've just arrived to our assigned area in Paisley and have been researching as much as time allows (mornings and late at night mostly), for family history connections. And I am blown away with what we've found. To make it short, we have found that virtually all of the Scotland royals going back to Fergus in 500 A.D. are family. Robert the Bruce I King of Scotland is 17th great grandfather, and back to the 'high stewards', all of whom are buried across the road from us at Paisley Abbey - as is Robert III, and his grandmother Princess Marjory Bruce. I've been buzzing for days. Sorry but this is so exciting.

Paisley Abbey is one of Scotland's largest and finest churches. In medieval times it was a major monastery where monks of the Cluniac order lived, worked and worshipped for centuries. 

It became an abbey in mid-13th century but before that it was Paisley Priory.

William Wallace, the Knight of Elderslie (a village about 3.5 miles from us) 1270-1305, received his young education from the monks of this Abbey.

The tomb of Marjory Bruce (d.1316) is the largest memorial, for the daughter of Robert I and mother of Robert II - the 'mother of a dynasty'. 

Marjory died at a young age, shortly after falling off of a horse, while pregnant. Her son, Robert II, was born posthumously in what some have said was the first caesarean section in Scotland.

Also in the choir, is the grave of Robert III (d. 1406), son and successor of Robert II. The memorial stone is from 1888, gifted by Queen Victoria.

On the north wall of the Choir is a memorial to the High Stewards of Scotland, who founded both Paisley Abbey and the Stewart royal dynasty. Several are buried here.

The Nave has three stories of varying heights. The Nave has never been left unroofed since its completion around 1450. The result is that the medieval stone-carving is in pristine condition.

Some areas of the Abbey date back to the 12th century, like the Romanesque doorway we went through at the Abbey entrance; others to the 13th and 15th century; and various renovations have been completed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Paisley Mod (Gaelic) Festival

One of the Paisley Ward members, Evelyn, has been so warm to us. She provided us brochures for what's happening around town, including the Mod Festival. It is a mix of competitions, concerts, ceilidhs, and other events. The only opportunity we had to see any of it was Saturday morning. The event was the 'Co-Choisearan/Massed Choirs', outside in front of the Town Hall and Abbey. When we walked over, there must have been 300 or so 'choir' members singing beautiful but not fully understood Gaelic hymns and anthems. Competitors from all the different choirs now joined voices in one large choir, and were led by various conductors. Our favorite choir leader came forward at the end, a man of 85 years, who had been coming to such festivals for 77 years. He had the large combined choir all instructed and ready to begin, with his arms raised ready to give the cue when... the church bells began to chime, signalling the time being 11am. With his hands raised and now lowering in defeat (or a temporary pause), everyone just laughed and waited for the ringing to end. The singing was brilliant - delivered beautifully by dedicated, passionate choralists of all ages. Moving indeed!

After a few days of rain, it was great to have the sun break out in time for the finale.

Dundonald Castle

This castle, not the last we'll visit, lies about 30 miles (50 km's) south of Paisley. We just joined the Historic Scotland membership and were able to book in for a 1 hour tour through the castle at no charge. But, we had to accept being 2 minutes late, and catching up to the tour that had already begun - due to not wanting to pull ourselves away from the MOD choir finale.

The known history of the site begins around 1160 with the FitzAlan family who came from Normandy. Walter FitzAlan, 21st Great Grandfather, came to Scotland in the household of David I, where he was the King's steward. As our guide explained to us, the steward to the King, was a position of highest trust and esteem. The steward was responsible for all of the King's properties and financial affairs. He tasted any food or beverage being served to the King. He vetted any positions of workers within the castle. At state events, he stood next to the King, ready to act on any request and to deal with any situations. Essentially being the #2. Walter's descendant, Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland, became King of Scots in 1371.

Over the years, there were at least 3 different castle built on this site, atop a rocky ridge of low hills. the first in 1160 of timber. By late 13th century it was replaced by the second, built from stone by Robert II's ancestor, Alexander, the High Steward. The third was smaller than the second, but its main building is one of Scotland's earliest and biggest tower houses. 

It was a steep climb from the visitor's centre up to the castle site.

This well/cistern was within the walls of the second castle built on the site.

What remains now of the barmkin wall surrounding the barmkin or courtyard. 600 years ago it would have been higher, and with a parapet with a path traversing the wall.

In the distance one can see The Arran Island, accessible by ferry from Ardrossan (a familiar name for any of our Sherwood Park family and friends). One man in the Ward owns a couple of holiday lets on the island and stays there regularly.

The castle offers a full view of the surrounding country, and the town of Dundonald below.

We stand here in the storage area of the castle. A wood beam floor would have created a second floor in this space, the laigh (low) hall. 

We climbed a narrow winding staircase and made it to the Great Upper Hall, the most important room in the castle. It would have been used for banquets and meetings hosted by the lord or the king.

How it would have looked.

The view from the top before going back down.

Time Flies

We are now less than 5 months to our return. That creates some anxious moments about our longer term (becoming nearer term) future. We'll try and focus on the immediate things though. There is alot for us to do here.

As MLS missionaries we find that ministering to individuals and families in their homes has been the most common activity, and we are overwhelmed with the task here in Paisley. About 600 on the membership list. We meet weekly with the Elders Quorum President to review names that should be a priority to call or visit. 

One opportunity for missionaries and members is, a pattern of feeding the missionaries by Ward members - especially for the young missionaries it is a wonderful thing to be invited for a meal. It reduces their financial pressures, and it bonds them to the hosting family. Relationships are formed. It's just something we've done wherever we have lived and it has always been great for our family to be around the missionaries. Our home Sundance Ward does it so wonderfully, and something we are trying hard to establish here. And the calendar did go around today for the first time and several appointments were made. Yay!

We had our Senior Missionaries Home Evening discussion on Wednesday - got to meet a new couple who arrived - from Tooele, Utah, who are assigned to Tralee. We heard about their travel issues once they began driving from the ferry in Belfast, Ireland - their car just died somewhere past Dublin; it was the car we drove for 6 months without a problem. They stayed in a hotel in Dublin for 4 nights awaiting repairs. Gave them a chance to get over jetlag (silver lining). They made it to Tralee finally late this week. 

Our Zone had a meeting with the Stake President this afternoon to talk about the Zone Plan for this 'transfer' period. And in that meeting we learned that a young man from the little branch of Stanraer, has been called on a two year full-time mission to the Calgary Canada Mission. Tina and I are working with the Stanraer Branch President to find a Sunday when we could come and speak in their Branch and meet this young man and his family. We'll let folks in Calgary know his name and arrival date when we know more.

We know that this mortal life brings us alot of challenges and trials. They come in all forms. Ageing, unexpected job loss, health, and the list goes on - including recent world events that are so troubling. Let's support each other in these times and be patient and kind to each other. 

God bless,

Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray

Member & Leader Support Missionaries

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints