5th century
Saint Palladius of Scotland
A fifth-century cleric sent from Rome, first bishop to Ireland and, by tradition, apostle of Scotland.
Biography
Palladius, of Celtic origin, served as a deacon in Rome and persuaded Pope Celestine I to send missionaries to Britain against Pelagianism. In 431 he was himself sent as the first bishop to Ireland, but stayed only a few months before a local chieftain drove him out, having baptised some believers and built three wooden churches.
He then turned to the northern parts of Britain, preaching for nineteen years among Irish settlers and the Picts. Local tradition regards him as the apostle and first bishop of Scotland, even though Christianity had already reached the region in the second century. He died peacefully in 450.