St. Ninian of Whithom

Bede, the Northumbrian historian, writing at Jarrow around 731, tellsus of St. Ninian:'a most reverend and holy man of British race who had been regularlyinstructed in the mysteries of the Christian faith in Rome. Ninian's ownepsicopal see, named after St. Martin and famous for its stately church,is now held by the English and it is here that his body and those of manysaints lie at rest. The place belongs to the province of Bemicia and iscommonly known as Candida Casa, the White House, which is becausehe built the church of stone, which is unusual among the Britons.'2A list of the Anglo-Saxon bishops at this church in the 8th centurysurvives and doubtless Bede obtained his details of Ninian from the first ofthese bishops, Pecthelm (whom Bede cites elsewhere as a source for hishistory). They are sparse details and, did they not come from an historian ofthe reputation of Bede, they would probably earn for Ninian a place inobscurity - along with many other early saints