Heartlands - Fortingall

TELLING THE STORY OF THE HEARTLANDS PANEL

Heather, who stitched this, writes:

Fortingall with its ancient tree, pieces of Pictish cross, stories of Saints and suffering, and its Arts and Craft buildings has prevailed through plague and plundering but it is still there to inspire future generations. I have spent much of my life working in the world’s poorest countries. It has always fascinated me that people hold their faith close. It can be very old or new, it might be a god, many gods, or the earth, but that thing called Faith takes many forms and interestingly becomes increasingly important the harder life is.

The Fortingall Yew is possibly the oldest tree in Britain with an estimated age of more than 5000 years, possibly even 9000 years. The tree was 3,000 years old when Christ was born, and by the Middle Ages was already a sacred site. According to legend, Pontius Pilate was born in its shade and played there as a child.

Fortingall is an ancient settlement and an important early Christian centre with suggestions of a monastery close to the site from around AD600. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona 679-704, probably visited en route from Milton Eonan via Glen Lyon to meetings in Northumbria. The nearby church in Dull is dedicated to him, while Fortingall church is probably dedicated to Coeti, the Bishop of Iona. There are ancient carved stones from the period, as well as an old stone font. The original church has been rebuilt on several occasions. Heather continues:

Places that last longer than people are so important to our sense of place and in our understanding of our communities. This area is both unique and stunning, made more so by its people and their stories and as our lives here are not that easy we hold our faith and our places close to our hearts.