Today is the anniversary of the death in 1093 of Margaret of Scotland, King Malcolm III’s queen, who was canonised in 1250. Our Local Ecumenical Partnership is with a Scottish Episcopal church dedicated to St Margaret, and they celebrated their patronal festival yesterday with a pleasingly high turn-out of worshippers but, alas, none of their usual music. We are all hoping for better things by the time the St Margaret’s congregation next hear Proverbs 31!

Their priest-in-charge, Very Rev Kenny Rathband, spoke of Margaret in his homily: “The saints who have gone before us are not necessarily remembered because they were without fault, or because they had special gifts. They are remembered because they stand as beacons of encouragement, of people who have sought to live a life of faith.

“They stand as lamps on a lampstand, shining for others to follow. They do not make themselves the focus, but rather they shine by reflecting the light of Christ and the service of others.”

You can read the whole homily at this link, and, if you click the image, you’ll link to a wonderful account of Margaret’s life in the Clerk of Oxford’s blog.