Plea for religious icon to return for celebrations

Casket was given to Abbot of Arbroath Abbey for safekeeping in 13th Century

A plea has been made to return a significant religious relic for the 700th anniversary in 2020 of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.

Organisers have made a request to return the famous Monymusk Reliquary as part of the celebrations.

Reliquaries housed precious relics associated with Christian saints and the Monymusk one, believed to have been made around the eighth century, is believed to have contained a relic of Saint Columba, one of the most important saints in medieval Scotland, though the casket is now empty.

It is at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Chic Grant, acting chairman of Arbroath 2020, the charity established to co-ordinate a programme of special events during the year-long celebration, said: “In about 1211, King William the Lion gave the reliquary to the Abbot of Arbroath Abbey for safekeeping.

“It would be incredibly fitting for this immensely significant religious relic to come home to Arbroath Abbey in 2020 – and would considerably enhance the 2020 Celebrations.

“These have the potential to be a worldwide occasion, as indeed Tartan Day in America always is and I’m pleased to say that the project has already attracted international interest.

“This is an opportunity for the people of Arbroath to come together and celebrate what was a momentous time in our history – and share it globally.”

Mr Grant also revealed that a central part of the celebrations will be a procession taking the signed Declaration of Arbroath from the abbey to the harbour.

He said: “The declaration was placed on board a ship, which sailed to the Papal court at Avignon and we hope to reenact this important aspect of the event.”

The proposal has won the backing of Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor, who said: “The Declaration of Arbroath and the Monymusk Reliquary are both intrinsically linked to the abbey.

“Although the declaration itself is too fragile to be moved now, I think it would be entirely appropriate for the National Museum of Scotland to strongly consider this proposal.

“I believe that having the reliquary back in Arbroath would highlight the hugely important role that the town and indeed the county has played in Scottish history, as well as helping to pass on this historic legacy to future generations.”

Pictures: Kim Cessford. Back, from left: Anne Marie Bray, Fiona Burnett, Bill Smith, Vina Smith and Jill Smith, with, front, Chic Grant, acting chairman of Arbroath 2020, Martin McLeod and Provost Ronnie Proctor at Arbroath Abbey.

A copy of the Monymusk Reliquary. It is hoped the original could return to Arbroath.