David of Scotland 24th May
If you like Scotland, you’ll appreciate St David of Scotland, who lived c.1085 1153.
David became king of Scotland in 1124, and devoted himself to improving his country. This included a feudal system of land tenure in place of the Celtic tribal one; an Anglo-Norman judicial system, and the development of towns such as Edinburgh, Berwick and Perth.
Above all, David re-organised the Church in Scotland. Contact with Rome was close, but he opposed Canterbury’s primatial claims. David founded several bishoprics, including those of Dunblane and Aberdeen. David was loved for his justice in administration, his accessibility to all, and his intense interest in gardens and orchards and buildings.
He was generous in alms-giving, and a devout Christian. When dying, and ordered to rest by his doctors, he said: “Allow me rather to think about the things of God, so that my soul may be strengthened when I stand before God’s judgement seat, none of you shall answer for me .” David died on 24 May and centuries later his name was inserted in the calendar of the Prayer-book for Scotland. His historical importance is that he founded the Scotland which defied Edward I.
Commemoration of the Month