O flower of Scotland

This is St Andrew's Episcopal church in Fortrose. It is located at the top of cliffs over looking the harbour and The Moray Firth. It is a stones throw away from the Cathedral. A Gothic buttressed and pinnacled church was built in 1827 at a cost of £1100 and dedicated to St Andrew. It's a beautiful church on the inside still with pews and several interesting stained glass windows.

St Andrew's day is celebrated each year on 30th November. He was a fisherman and one of Jesus' disciples. He was crucified on this date in 60 AD by the Romans on an x shaped cross which later became the Saltire symbol found on the Scottish Flag.

Many fire places around Northern England and Scotland have been carved with an image of the cross to warn off witches .

It is believed that an angel spoke to a monk named Regulus and told him to take some remains of St Andrew to the ends of the earth. So he took a tooth, arm bone, knee cap and some fingers and set sail. He landed in Scotland and was given land by a Pictish King to build a church. A settlement grow up around the church and grew into the town of St Andrews.

Today is the start of the Scottish Winter festivals that will continue until Burns night on the 25th January.

My thoughts are with everyone in Glasgow and those who have been affected by the helicopter tragedy.