The story of St Medan's Well
THE coming of Christianity to the South Rhins brought further legends and tales of the early saints with one that is unique to the area.
In the 8th Century, Medana, a beautiful Irish princess and a convert to Christianity, fled her native land to settle with some of her handmaidens in a cave near East Tarbet Bay and, from that bleak spot, ministered to the early local Christian community.
One day, to her horror, Medana was confronted by her former lover who had followed her from Ireland.
To escape him the saintly virgin simply stepped onto a rock which conveniently floated across Luce Bay to Monreith and, in thanksgiving for her escape, she built a chapel at Kirkmaiden in Ferness.
Undaunted, however, at her speedy departure, the besotted Irishman chased her to the Machars and, on being asked what made her so attractive, indicated that her eyes were so beautiful that he could not live without them. At this point, the pious lady plucked them out and cast them at his feet, whereupon he rushed off homewards very much shaken.
However, on washing her now bleeding face at a small well, known today as St. Medan's Well, Medana's sight was miraculously restored.
She then resumed her religious life and travelled all over Scotland founding several churches, before becoming governess to a Saxon king's daughter.
St. Medana' Chapel lends its name to Kirkmaiden itself immortalised by Robert Burns who wrote:
'Hear, land 0'Cakes, an' brither Scots,
Frae Maidenhirk to Johnie Groat's,
If there's a hole in a' your coats,
Indeed you tent it,
A chield's amang you takin notes,
And faith he'll prent it…'
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
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