Interior Parish Church Including Pictish Stone On History Visit To Crail East Neuk Of Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K travel video, with Scottish music, of the interior, with Pictish Class III Cross Slab stone, of the Parish Church in Crail on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to the East Neuk Of Fife, Britain, United Kingdom. There has been a church at this location since at least the twelfth century. The earliest known parish church on this site was a two celled Norman building. It was consecrated in 1243 to Saint Maelrubha and after a successful petition by the Prioress of Haddington, became Collegiate in 1517, by which time it was known as St. Mary's. Between its foundation and 1815 there were many modifications and additions. In 1815 Robert Balfour undertook the first major renovation and a second was carried out by Judith Campbell in 1963. The Pictish Class III Cross Slab stone was retrieved in 1815, having been used as a paving stone in the floor for more than fifty years. This stone carved with animals and other emblems is probably the Old Cross of Crail. Pilgrims flocked to the town hoping to find a cure for their illnesses. The cross was reputed to have great healing powers. The Irish named the Picts as the Cruithni or 'People of Designs'. In this regard the Picts have endowed us with a huge tangible legacy in the form of elaborate stone carvings, being a skill in which they clearly excelled. There are numerous Pet or Pit names which are usually reliable indicators of a Pictish origin. As the Picts settled the land first they selected well positioned, south facing sites for their settlements. Places with probable Pictish origins include Pitlochry, Pitagowan, Pitcairn, Pitmeddan, Pitroddie and Pittenweem. It is possible that the element Pent as found in Pentland Hills and Pentland Firth may also indicate a connection with the Picts. Using evidence from place name distribution and carved stones, it would appear that the Picts occupied the north and east of Scotland. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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