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Saint Columba's Font

Holed Stone

<b>Saint Columba's Font</b>Posted by catonhotbricksImage © cat davidson
Nearest Town:Inverness (14km NNE)
OS Ref (GB):   NH571347 / Sheet: 26
Latitude:57° 22' 49.14" N
Longitude:   4° 22' 37.77" W

Added by Rhiannon


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<b>Saint Columba's Font</b>Posted by catonhotbricks <b>Saint Columba's Font</b>Posted by catonhotbricks

Folklore

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This block of hard mica-schist has a 6" diameter hole, 11" deep. Traditionally known as 'St Columba's Font', it was used for baptisms "within living memory" according to a 1970 source, and for medicinal purposes. On the banks of Loch Ness, it is apparently set within a 3m diameter circle of large irregularly shaped boulders. It is put forward in the Scottish National Monuments Record that it isn't actually a half-finished millstone, in case you were wondering. It is a strangely deep hole compared to its diameter though?

Saint Columba himself apparently once saw off the Loch Ness Monster, according to his biographer Saint Adamnan (c597AD). One imagines the heathen picts were so impressed that they would have been queuing up for baptism in the aforementioned font.
On another occasion also, when the blessed man was living for some days in the province of the Picts, he was obliged to cross the river Nesa (the Ness); and when he reached the bank of the river, he saw some of the inhabitants burying an unfortunate man, who, according to the account of those who were burying him, was a short time before seized, as he was swimming, and bitten most severely by a monster that lived in the water; his wretched body was, though too late, taken out with a hook, by those who came to his assistance in a boat. The blessed man, on hearing this, was so far from being dismayed, that he directed one of his companions to swim over and row across the coble that was moored at the farther bank. And Lugne Mocumin hearing the command of the excellent man, obeyed without the least delay, taking off all his clothes, except his tunic, and leaping into the water. But the monster, which, so far from being satiated, was only roused for more prey, was lying at the bottom of the stream, and when it felt the water disturbed above by the man swimming, suddenly rushed out, and, giving an awful roar, darted after him, with its mouth wide open, as the man swam in the middle of the stream. Then the blessed man observing this, raised his holy hand, while all the rest, brethren as well as strangers, were stupefied with terror, and, invoking the name of God, formed the saving sign of the cross in the air, and commanded the ferocious monster, saying, "Thou shalt go no further, nor touch the man; go back with all speed." Then at the voice of the saint, the monster was terrified, and fled more quickly than if it had been pulled back with ropes, though it had just got so near to Lugne, as he swam, that there was not more than the length of a spear-staff between the man and the beast. Then the brethren seeing that the monster had gone back, and that their comrade Lugne returned to them in the boat safe and sound, were struck with admiration, and gave glory to God in the blessed man. And even the barbarous heathens, who were present, were forced by the greatness of this miracle, which they themselves had seen, to magnify the God of the Christians.
online at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/columba-e.html

Graeme C's 'Yorkshire Rock Art' site additionally mentions that the stone was "held to be beneficial in connection with child birth." The cavity was said also "to be always full of water and if it was emptied out it would fill up of its own accord".
http://www.alkelda.f9.co.uk/lore1.htm_
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
26th May 2005ce
Edited 27th May 2005ce

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Abriachan Garden Nursery


The font stone within Abriachan Nurseries.
Posted by catonhotbricks
17th April 2011ce
Edited 17th April 2011ce