In 2018, my husband, our eight-month-old son, and I took a somewhat spur-of-the-moment trip to Scotland. It was my husband’s first time in the UK, and we wanted to make the most of every moment. Driving from town to town with a baby meant we were moving slower than planned, but there was a sense of quiet adventure in the rhythm of it all — castles, countryside, roadside naps, and the occasional frantic Google Maps search.
Midway through our trip, we planned a stop at Dunfermline Abbey. I had long admired Saint Margaret of Scotland — a queen, mother, and saint with a reputation for charity, intelligence, and deep faith. It felt important to visit her burial place. But when we arrived, the abbey was already closed for the day. We wandered the grounds and read some of the signage, only to realise that Margaret’s relics were no longer there. Disheartened, and still needing to attend Sunday Mass, we searched for the closest Catholic church in town.
After Mass, we were gathering our things and preparing to leave when we happened upon a small side room. Tucked quietly in a glass cabinet — almost unnoticed — was a reliquary containing Saint Margaret’s shoulder bone.
It was such an odd discovery. There had been no signs, no mention in anything we’d read — not even on the Dunfermline Abbey website. The church itself looked like it might have been undergoing renovations, and the reliquary wasn’t displayed on an altar or in a prominent place. Yet there she was — not in the grand historic site we’d planned to visit, but quietly waiting for us in the corner of an ordinary parish church.
It felt like a small miracle. A quiet encounter with a queen who had always lived her faith in the everyday.
A Queen from Exile: The Life of Saint Margaret
Saint Margaret was born around 1045, likely in Hungary, where her father — the exiled English prince Edward the Exile — had sought refuge after the Danish conquest of England. Her early life was shaped by travel, uncertainty, and royal expectation.
Eventually, Margaret returned to England with her family, but after the Norman Conquest in 1066, they fled once again, this time to Scotland. There, she married King Malcolm III — a union of dynasties and faith. While Malcolm was reportedly rugged and unrefined, Margaret brought a sense of grace and Christian devotion to the Scottish court. She was not just queen in name but heart and action — deeply involved in the spiritual life of her people, renowned for her intelligence, piety, and charitable works.
Margaret gave birth to eight children, several of whom would go on to rule or become saints themselves. She was known for her personal holiness, her care for the poor, and her role in reforming and strengthening the Church in Scotland.
She died on 16 November 1093, just days after the deaths of her husband and eldest son in battle. She was canonised in 1250.
Why Saint Margaret Still Matters
Saint Margaret’s influence on Scottish life — both religious and cultural — is hard to overstate. She worked tirelessly to bring the practices of the Scottish Church into harmony with Roman customs, encouraging frequent reception of the sacraments, proper observance of the liturgical calendar, and the building of churches and monasteries.
But more than ecclesiastical reform, she was beloved for her personal example. She rose before dawn to pray, read Scripture, and serve the poor with her own hands. As queen, she lived in a castle, but her heart was always with those in need.
She is often remembered as a civilising force — a woman of learning and refinement who brought compassion, order, and deep spiritual conviction into one of Scotland’s most formative royal courts. She is also a patroness of mothers, widows, and the Scottish people.
Following in Her Footsteps: Places of Pilgrimage
Several places in Scotland are closely tied to Saint Margaret’s life and legacy:
- Dunfermline Abbey: The great Benedictine abbey founded by Margaret and Malcolm. It became the burial place for many Scottish royals, including Saint Margaret herself. Though her relics were removed during the Reformation and scattered, the abbey remains a significant site of memory.
- St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle: The oldest building in Edinburgh, this tiny Romanesque chapel was built by her son King David I in her honour. It is still a working chapel today.
- St Margaret’s Relic in Dunfermline: In the church we stumbled upon — likely St Margaret’s Memorial Church — you can still find a reliquary with one of her bones. Strangely, little information is available about it. Even after digging through church websites and online articles, it remains almost a secret. But perhaps that’s fitting for a woman who lived her faith in such quiet service.
Traditionally, Margaret was honoured on 10 June, the date chosen at her canonisation. In the modern calendar, her feast is listed on 16 November, the date of her death. But for those who love the old rhythms of the Church, 10 June remains a special day to remember her.
When Saints Find You
Looking back on that quiet encounter in Dunfermline, I’m struck by how much it reflects Margaret herself. We were seeking something grand — the abbey, the shrine, the history — and instead, we found her in a humble parish room, no fanfare or signs, just presence.
In many ways, that’s how she lived. She didn’t need thrones or triumphs to serve her people and love God. She did it in the quiet of the early morning, in the sharing of bread, in the dignity she gave to the poor.
If you find yourself drawn to Saint Margaret, perhaps take a moment on 10 June to light a candle or say a prayer. And if you’re ever in Scotland, leave room in your journey for surprises. You never know where a saint might be waiting.
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