the parish of Kelton, Kirkcudbright,
possibly refers to this saint. {45}

St. Boniface or Curitan, Bishop, 8th century.

An ancient legend, which modern historians have shown to be a
fanciful distortion of facts, relates that this saint, an Israelite,
came from Rome to Britain, and that after converting Nectan, King of
the Picts, and his people to Christianity, he consecrated 150
bishops, ordained 1000 priests, founded 150 churches, and baptised
36,000 persons. The real facts of the case seem to be that this saint
is identical with Curitan, an Irish saint, who laboured in Scotland
to bring about the Roman observance of Easter. The testimony of St.
Bede that King Nectan in the year 710 adopted the Roman computation,
and the fact that St. Boniface was zealous in founding churches in
honour of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, thus identifying
himself with special devotion to Rome, seem to give weight to the
supposition. This saint became a bishop, and the cathedral of the
diocese of Ross, which replaced the primitive building raised by him
at Rosemarkie (now Fortrose) and dedicated to St. Peter, was
subsequently named in his honour. A fair was formerly held there
annually on his feast-day. {46}

In Glen-Urquhart, Inverness-shire, _Clach Churadain_, an ancient
church at Corrimony, was dedicated to this saint. _Croit Churadain_
("Curitan's Croft") and _Tobar Churadain_ ("Curitan's Well") are hard
by.

17--St. Patrick, Bishop, A.D. 493.

To many it may seem strange that the name of the great Apostle of
Ireland should appear among Scottish saints; but the calendar would
be incomplete without it. According to many competent authorities St.
Patrick was born in Scotland. They fix his birthplace at Kilpatrick
on the Clyde, near Dumbarton. Even were this theory rejected, and
that one accepted which makes him a native of Gaul, still the number
of churches dedicated to the saint in Scotland, testifying to the
devotion in which he was held in Catholic ages, would justify the
mention of his feast here. About fourteen churches bore his name, and
many have given the designation to the parish in which they stand, as
Kilpatrick, Temple-Patrick, Ard-Patrick, Dalpatrick, Kirkpatrick,
etc. Fairs were held on this day--known as "Patrickmas"--at Dumbarton
and Kirkpatrick--Durham {47} (Kirkcudbrightshire). There is a sacred
well called by the saint's name, and also a small chapel in honour of
St. Patrick, at Muthill, Perthshire, an