10/06/2026
Continuing our 175th celebrations on Saturday 13th, at 3pm, we have the world premiere of a newly composed piece of music telling St Ternan’s story based on the recent archaeological resonance imaging of Banchory - a place of Christian learning - under the cemetery near the East Church. We now know that our St Ternan lived in the 5th century Mearns, an area stretching from Stonehaven to Kincardine along the Dee, taking in modern Aberdeen and Inverurie as well as Fettercairn.
The Pictish Ternan grew up near Stonehaven in a weem (underground House) not dissimilar to the stable in which Jesus was born.
Once Ternan’s skils in preaching the gospel, teaching good farming practices and healing were proven, he was taken to St Magnus, Orkney - the seat of the Diocese at that time, based in the Nordic church - and was consecrated as bishop to the Picks. The Ronecht bell and Gospel of Matthew were likely gifted as part of the ceremony.
Orkney was a big trading centre at the time, where Portuguese, Nordic, Mediterranean, and Syrian products known to have been traded. It was from Orkney that Christianity first came into the North East of Scotland. St Ternan’s Banchory is still part of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, and on Sunday 14th (at 11am) we will have a Festal Communion with the current Bishop presiding.
