Scotland: The Castle and St. Margaret's Chapel . .

Today I took the City Sightseeing Tour Bus and visited the Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle (which was free due to St. Andrews Day Homecoming Celebration). Yay!

The Holyroodhouse sits at the end of the Royal Mile and is the official residence in Scotland of the British Royal family. There is an impressive collection of furnishings, plasterwork ceilings and tapestries in the State Apartments. The remains of Holyrood Abbey, located within the grounds, date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The entrance fee is 10 pounds and it includes an audio guide. I thought it was very interesting to visit and learn about so much history, especially the brutal killing of Queen Mary’s confidante, David Riccio, by her second husband. There was some real drama back then.

I didn’t intend to visit the Edinburgh Castle until Monday, however, learning that it is still free to enter today and with fewer crowds from the day before because of the freezing cold weather, I hopped off the bus to visit the castle. The Castle is perched high on an extinct volcano. With its position, it would’ve been difficult for enemies to attack it successfully. There are several items and displays of interest, Mons Meg, a six ton canon gun, the Scottish National War Memorial (which was built to honour the 500,000 Scotsmen killed in the Great War), the 1 O’clock Gun that is fired everyday, the Crown Jewels, the Scottish National War Memorial, etc. I even got to see a cool performance by a bag pipe band as I exited the Castle. They were performing for some dignitary visiting the castle. Lucky me! But the most interesting thing that fascinated me the most on the entire grounds is the smallest and oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel.

St. Margaret’s Chapel is a very small chapel but it is a very special place. You can literally feel its special meaning when entering. I have read of Macbeth, King of Socts. Well, Macbeth was succeeded by King Malcoml III, who married Princess Margaret after she found refuge in Scotland when her family was excluded from the English throne by William the Conqueror. Queen Margaret was one of the most lovely Queens there has ever been and she was loved because she herself loved so much and did all she could for her subjects. Above all she loved God; and, loving her people, she wanted them to love God, too. This little chapel, built on the rock of Edinburgh Castle, is called by her name; and to this day, St. Margaret’s Chapel seems still to weave the spell of her love and prayers.

The chapel stands on the very spot were it has always stood, a place set apart. In days of siege and war, as well in days of plenty and of peace, people have come here to give God their workship. Those who were great in power, Kings and Queens, lords and ladies, knights and lairds, soldiers of the sword and of the cross, those who were great in humility, or everyday people like me have come to this chapel. I have read that she had a tremendous heart. It is said that during lent she “went into the hall of the palace, she found it full of poor people, she washed their feet and served them herself.” Margaret was greater than her greatest work. Her achievements were great, but the selfless spirit in which she achieved them was greater still. As Cassian said, the height of perfection and blessedness lies in the purity of Love. For all things shall pass away and be destroyed but Love is to abide for ever.

So although St. Margaret’s Chapel is the smallest and oldest in the Castle Grounds I find it to be my favorite!

At the end of the tour, I arrived in St. Andrews Square just in time for the Nativity Scene Blessings and Choir Performance. People in the audience were all singing along and well so did I! It was fun!

Some of the Day's images . .

The Abbey at Holyroodhouse . . .

The Castle from within the grounds . . .

St. Margaret's Chapel . . .

Bagpipes performance . . .

 

Nativity Choir Performance . . .