Other Saintly Connections

The earliest direct record of Aberlady goes further back to the early 6th century, when Thenew - or Thanea - enhances our story. She was the daughter of King Loth of the Gododdin, who gave name to Lothian. 

 The story takes us back to the days of Arthurian legend.

Loth wished Thanea to wed a British prince called Urien of Rheged, whom the girl rejected, partly because she did not like him and partly because he was not a Christian, as she was - although King Loth's faith had lapsed.   Marriage between royal families was a customary means of cementing relationships and enhancing the royal blood-line.  On her  refusal Loth banished Thenew as a slave for his chief shepherd in the Lammermuirs, as punishment.

But there Urien raped Thenew.  Being now pregnant, King Loth ordered her execution - for this was the penalty of high-born young women illegitimately pregnant.  Loth had her thrown down the steep, south face of Traprain Law - on which he had his fortress-capital.  Miraculously Thenew although injured survived; and, afraid that her Christian God was taking an interest, and might make things uncomfortable for himself, Loth decided to hand his daugther over to Manannan, the sea-god.

He had her taken to Aberlady Bay, put in a hide coracle and cast adrift to Manannan.  Pregnant Thanae drifted out as far as the Isle of May, where the tide turned, pushing the coracle up-Forth to eventually ground at Culross.  Culross is where St Serf had his monastery. That Celtic saint tended the ravaged and pregnant Thenew, and there her son was born.  He was given the name of Kentigern, although Serf affectionately called him Mungo, meaning mannikin.  And, in due course, Mungo himself became a Celtic missionary, and moved west with his mother, to the Clyde, to found his establishment, which was Eglaid-cu.  This became Glasgow and the church developed into Glasgow Cathedral. 

Glasgow's Coat of Arms, depicting the legend of St Kentigern

Mungo lived an ascetic and holy life until his death in 603. He was canonised and became the patron saint of Glasgow with a feast day on 13 January.  His grave is still below St Mungo's Cathedral.   In time Princess Thenew’s name changed to suit the local  dialects to Enoch - St Enoch.  Nearer to home, a natural spring was dedicated to the Saint - Mungo's Wells (Mungoswells).

Mungo, or Kentigern, was a contemporary of Arthur and the druidic holy man Merlin.