Speaker for 13th March 2018
Coleraine Probus and the story of St. Patrick
Coleraine Probus members were pleased to meet the Revd. Dr. Stanley Gamble when he recently visited the club to talk about “Saint Patrick - a Saint for All”, and he really got the members thinking!
Revd. Gamble is Rector of Killinchy, Kilmood and Tullynakill United Parishes, Co. Down, and had spent a lot of time studying myths and reality that are associated with the Saint. We know for a fact that St. Patrick was born around 390 AD; his grandfather Potitus was a priest in the British Church and his father was a deacon - which indicated marriage in the church at that time.
Stanley outlined the journeys taken by St. Patrick from his time as a slave (possibly captured from somewhere in, what is now called, Wales) and then taken to Ireland. He eventually escaped back to Britain after about six years. Patrick then spent years of study, before returning to Ireland as a Missionary. Once there again he played a major roll in converting the Irish to Christianity. Some of his writings still survive, namely “The Confession of St. Patrick,” written near the end of his life and his “Letter to Coroticus”. Although well read, his lack of the typical classical education meant that his Latin was rather rustic and plain. He died about 460 AD, which for those times was a long life.
Stanley then turned to the cults and myths about St. Patrick, whether it’s driving the snakes out of Ireland or the concept of the Trinity in the shamrock, alas there is nothing in the Saint's writings to confirm anything of this. Stanley went on to discuss the contentious parades, both here and abroad, that claim Patrick as their own. The very first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in America and was organised by The Charitable Irish Society of Boston in 1761 - an emigrant Protestant welfare organisation. Stanley went on to mention local councils that are to be commended for their attempts to ensure that all the St. Patrick Day parades have a cross community focus.
Whatever to truth is around Saint Patrick, it is often overwhelmed by three modern day obsessions, Parades, Politics and Profit. How many times have there been news coverage big name politicians meeting and then attending "St. Patrick's Day Parades" - it is the 'photo opportunity' that cannot be missed. And how about 'Tourism Ireland', one can only imagine just how many overseas tourists arrive on the island of Ireland simply to follow in the (artificially created) footsteps of the Saint, visit particular sites and immerse themselves in "the Saint Patrick's experience" - the money generated certainly helps our economy by no small sum.
(Our thanks to Graham for help with this write-up - WebEd)
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For another look at Rev. Stanley's interesting presentation, the text from “The Confessions of St. Patrick,” AND to find out what REALLY happened about St. Pat and the Snakes, just 'Click' on the mini pic below.
