Saints in Scottish Place-Names

Adamnán of Coldingham

Introduction

See HE, book 4 c. 25. In the monastery 'quod Coludi Urbem cognominant' there was a 'vir de genere Scottorum, Adamnanus uocabulo'. He had committed some terrible sin in his youth and was doing penance, eating only twice a week. He makes a prophesy regarding the burning of the monastery as divine punishment for the sins of its inhabitants. He tells Ebba (the first abbess of Coldingham, d. 683), the Mother and abbess (mater, abbatissa) of the community that the disaster will not happen in their time. The nuns subsequently reform, but after Ebba's death they relapse: 'And when they said 'Peace and safety', then sudden destruction came upon them.' Et cum dicerent, 'Pax et securitas,' extemplo praefatae ultionis sunt poena multati. Bede claims he was told this story by Edgils, who was living in the monastery at the time of the fire, and came afterwards to Jarrow. 'Under the church of Dalmeny were an altar and chapel of St. Adamnan (Ret.); this may have been Adamnan of Coldingham.' Watson 1926, 152.

Gender

Male

Associated places

Coldingham, Berwickshire

Territory or Ethnicity (broad)

Gaelic

Source for saint

Source

Bede: Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Book 4, ch. 25

Related Saints

Belongs to the group Adomnán (ns) (certain)

Feast days

Day of Year

Jan 27

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by David Chambers

Quote from source

S. Adamannus Abbas Coludius

Day of Year

Jan 31

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster

Quote from source

Coludii Adamanni abbatis. F.[Johannes Fordanus aut ejus continuator] Insula Huyi Adamanni abbatis. B. [Breviarum Scoticum, maxime Aberdonense]

Saint in place-names

Though no place-name referring to this particular saint has been identified, it may be that some of the places dedicated to the non-specific group to which he/she belongs may in fact refer to him/her. Please check the non-specific group.

See: Adomnán (ns)