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The True Faith Preserved

In 2010 we mark the 450th anniversary of the Reformation, an event which left an indelible legacy in Scottish society. In The True Faith Preserved we trace the fortunes of the Roman Catholic Church here, from its proscription at the time of the Reformation, its persecution and precarious survival in the intervening years and its reinvigoration through Irish immigration in the 19th century and Polish immigration in recent years.

Scotland now has 750,000 adherents, but in the early 1800's there were more Catholics on the tiny Isle of Eriskay than there were in the whole of Strathclyde! Yet a native Scottish catholic tradition survived in pockets in places like Barra in the North West and Glenlivet in the North East. Billy visits the "hidden seminary" of Scalan in the Braes of Glenlivet where so-called "Heather Priests" were educated in surroundings that were Spartan but perfect for the training of young men who would lead a tough life practicing an outlawed religion. Such was the shortage of priests, that in Barra in 1697 one was held hostage by the local men...."they swore that they would sooner burn their boats than let another priest leave in one". From Barra, the renowned Gaelic singer Flora McNeill recalls the Catholic traditions of the island that go back to the time of St Columba.

Other contributors include Fr. Brian M Halloran author of Scottish Secular Priests 1580 - 1653, John Watts author of Scalan The Forbidden College, Peter Kearney of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, Rennie and Agnes McOwan from St Ninian's Stirling, and Professor John Haldane of St Andrews University.

As Rennie McOwan says in the programme, relations between the Catholic Church and the Protestant denominations nowadays is excellent, and if Sectarianism survives, it is among the unchurched. Professor Haldane reminds us however, how bitter it could be in West Central Scotland in the recent past. He himself is a catholic convert but as a small boy, his Protestant grandfather told him that the reason the Pope wore long robes was to hide his cloven feet!!

For a majority of Scots, knowledge of other churches can be scant and based on stereotypes. This series reveals the deep historic roots of all the major denominations in Scotland and explores their relevance to the future of the country.

An Odyssey Production for Radio Scotland.