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Abercorn is located on the Southern shore of the River Forth, to the North of Linlithgow, towards the Western extent of modern Lothian. Click here for a location map provided by StreetMap.
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The C12th/Modern Kirk at Abercorn
Abercorn is probably the site of an ancient Celtic Christian centre which later played a highly significant role in Scottish history, despite its modest size. St. Ninian allegedly visited Abercorn on his mission to the Southern Picts in the C5th, and following the Northumbrian defeat of Gododdin in AD 638, and the temporary subjection of the Southern Picts, Abercorn became a Northumbrian Anglian episcopal centre in AD 678 which briefly controlled South-Pictish Christianity under Bishop Trumwin. However, the Anglian hegemony in the North came to an abrupt end with their defeat by the Picts at the Battle of Dunnichen in AD 685, and Trumwin beat a hasty retreat South to Whitby. According to the Anglian historian, Bede (NB. for "English" in this translation, read "Anglian"):
From that time the hopes and strength of the English crown "began to waver and retrograde"; for the Picts recovered their own lands, which had been held by the English and the Scots that were in Britain, and some of the Britons their liberty, which they have now enjoyed for about fortysix years. Among the many English that then either fell by the sword, or were made slaves, or escaped by flight out of the country of the Picts, the most reverend man of God, Trumwine, who had been made bishop over them, withdrew with his people that were in the monastery of Abercurnig, seated in the country of the English, but close by the arm of the sea which parts the lands of the English and the Scots. Having recommended his followers, wheresoever he could, to his friends in the monasteries, he chose his own place of residence in the monastery, which we have so often mentioned, of Men and women servants Of God, at Streaneshalch; and there he, for several years, led a life in all monastical austerity, not only to his own, but to the benefit of many, with a few of his own people; and dying there, he was buried in the church of St. Peter the Apostle, with the honour due to his life and rank.
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book 4, Chapter 26.
From that point on, it seems that Abercorn was returned to local hands after the short period of full Northumbrian occupation, and continues in use to this day.
The placename itself is clearly Brythonic, but while Abercorn was probably within the kingdom of Gododdin, with its capital at Din Eidyn (Edinburgh), there is a possibility that it was also for a time within Pictish territory. Bede, writing of the nearby Antonine Wall, says:
It begins at about two miles' distance from the monastery of Aebbercurnig, on the west, at a place called in the Pictish language, Peanfahel [Kinneil], but in the English tongue, Penneltun...
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
It would seem, then, that the Eastern end of the Antonine Wall, now in West Lothian, was a part of Pictavia, or at least inhabited by Picts, and if so, it is also possible that Abercorn was, too. Furthermore, Bede writes of Trumwin's ecclesiastical subjects being "those Picts who were then subject to English rule". Given that at this time, the River Forth marked the Northern boundary of the expanded Northumbria, according to W.A. Cummins, this could be interpreted as a reference to Picts South of the Antonine Wall - Cummins, The Picts and Their Symbols (Stroud: Sutton, 1999). However, it could also simply refer to the Southern Picts who were under the influence of Abercorn.
The View Towards Pictavia (Fife) from Abercorn Point on the River Forth
The name of Abercorn is easily interpretable as Old Welsh, although the Picts also gave many aber- names to their towns such as Aberdeen, Aberfeldy, and Aberlemno. Aber- of course means a river confluence, estuary or simply a stream, and a few metres North of the modern church runs a stream still called the Cornie Burn. What the root of corn / cornie might be also fairly straightforward. Bede, as we have seen, gives Aebbercurnig, with variants such as Ebbercurnig, Aebercurnei, and Aeborcirnit. This could imply a root connected to Welsh corniog for "horned", or simply the widespread Brythonic corn for "horn". Note also that one Northern Pictish tribe were known as the Cornavii, "the horned people" (perhaps with a bull cult such as that at Burghead?). Hence, both elements in this placename make sense as either Brythonic or Pictish.
Ruined Bridge over the Cornie Burn
But given that the Cornie Burn flows into the Midhope Burn just at the back of the kirk, prior to flowing into the Forth, the actual meaning of the placename is totally transparent in either language!
Located in the Session House just inside the kirkyard gates, are several burial stones and cross fragments. The following two fragments are thought to be from a C7th Northumbrian cross, although the heavy influence of the Celtic style is evident here, as in other Northumbrian works of the time.
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C7th Northumbrian Cross Shaft, Abercorn
In fact, the leaflet guide published by the kirk proposes that this cross was "The Bishop's Cross", presumably commissioned by Trumwin himself. However, in the absence of any inscription on the cross or documentary evidence, this remains conjecture.
One other cross shaft fragment has survived from Abercorn, much wider than "The Bishop's Cross", but possibly also shorter.
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Cross Shaft, Abercorn
Again, the likelihood is that this cross is also Northumbrian. It seems odd that the main remaining crosses from this church should be Northumbrian rather than Celtic, given that the Anglians only held it to any notable extent for 7 years, although they may also indicate a more localised Anglian resumption of control. However, it may be the case that the wheel cross stone slab is of Celtic origin. Note also the goblet figure on the left.
Wheel Cross Stone, Abercorn
This stone is stylistically similar to some from the Columban tradition which can be found in Argyll, but it's also worth remembering that only a few minutes sailing down the River Forth would have brought the Abercorn monks into contact with the C12th Augustinian abbey at Inchcolm (Columba's Island), sometimes referred to as the "Iona of the East".
Oddly, perhaps, for an area of Scotland which has relatively little evidence of Norse contact, Abercorn nonetheless has two surviving Viking hogback burial stones.
Viking Hogback Burial Stone, Abercorn
However, the nearby placename of Corstorphine (Torfin's Cross) does provide a possible Norse link. Equally, there are such burial stones to be found in religious sites in Pictavia proper, such as Meigle, and at other Brythonic churches such as Govan in Strathclyde.