Pilgrim's progress

We've gone to almost all of the major pilgrimage sites in Scotland now. All if you just go by the first 12 centuries. Yesterday after exploring the far too cute Beatrix Potter museum in Birnam, we trekked over to Dunkeld to see the partially ruined cathedral where St. Columba's relics were held for awhile. Today we saw the reliquary in the museum. The relics are long gone, but it was cool to see part of what the old pilgrims might have seen.

We've learned a lot about the Reformation and why the Episcopal and Catholic churches were so terribly persecuted/desecrated. It's the Jacobite deal, you know, those people who didn't like people beheading the king happened to be Episcopalians or Catholics, etc. Also, maybe the Episcopalians and Catholics weren't crazed mobs who destroyed priceless artwork and sacred objects and/or go around preaching in masks to avoid the law. Mmkay, I just don't think that destroying the Bible of the Poor (stained glass windows) was necessary to get across the point that everyone should be allowed to read the scriptures in their own language. In the museum today, we saw two very heartbreaking things: the only painted ceiling that survived the Reformation, and the only church banner to survive the Reformation (in Scotland). "And I alone am left to tell."

The highlight of today was Eucharisting at St. Mary's Episcopal cathedral. We really needed Eucharist. It was just us and the priest today. Afterwards, she inquired as to where we are from, etc. She said, "You're definitely 'piscers. I could see that right away. But I didn't quite think you were from the Scottish Episcopal Church." Besides the accents, we paused awkwardly in the few places where the responses are different in the SEC liturgy. I've never been called out as a conspicuous 'piscer before, so I'm actually kind of flattered. I don't know what that says about my character.

We're very travel weary at this point. (I think I'm expressing my weariness by narrowing my eyes at the Reformers, like they care what I think across the centuries). I don't know what the internet access will be like when we head south, but I'll try to do a photo blog before we head home. Tomorrow we are for York. Our goal is to make the noon-thirty Eucharist at Yorkminster. Then we have a Jane Austen detour to Bath (yay!), then longen folks to go on pilgrimages especially to Canterbury. Then London, then home! (Where we will not be able to buy groceries, but I think we have some mac and cheese or something to eat on Thanksgiving night).