Bruce anniversary and abbey bicentenary commemoration

From left to right, Lord Charles Bruce, the Very Rev Dr Derek Browning and Abbey minister, the Rev MaryAnn Rennie.

THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said that there are important lessons for today from the historic discovery 200 years ago of the tomb of Robert the Bruce.

Delivering a sermon at a special commemorative service at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline in February, which marked the anniversary and also the beginning of the church’s bicentenary celebrations, the Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning said: “Today we commemorate the finding of The Bruce’s bones here in Dunfermline.

But I would suggest we have more to commemorate than that. Not just a dead warrior king’s bones, but something of his spirit and vision, and his determination after despair to persevere. Not just bones from centuries ago, but an example of how we should live our lives today. In the face of everything that is going on in the news so that we persevere in being and doing good.”

Drawing on other examples of contemporary perseverance for change, including support of gun law reform following the Florida school shooting in the US and Brexit negotiations, the Moderator added: “In the face of the tidal wave of suf ering and displacement of refugees in many parts of the globe we persevere, through direct support modelled by the Restoration Fund Appeal which will help address some of the needs of refugees and remind us that this Abbey was founded by St Margaret as a place of sanctuary and refuge, where neighbours are still needed.

“Today goes beyond the bones of a dead King, and beyond even the temptation of Jesus in the desert, to the place of perseverance and hope, where Christians today, through kindness, generosity and love – a faith lived out loud.”

Special guests including Lord Bruce and his son Benedict, who are direct descendants of Robert the Bruce; and the Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, attended the service.

More than 300 people had visited the tomb of the famous king the previous day (February 17), as the church opened its doors to mark the historic discovery on the 200th anniversary.

At a lunch following the special service, a new appeal was launched to help provide direct support to refugees and to support the Abbey Church of Dunfermline Restoration Fund to ensure the preservation of the Church which has a legacy as a place of sanctuary and refuge.

The guest speaker at the lunch was David Bradwell, Refugee Co-ordinator for Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees who said: “This anniversary and Robert the Bruce’s place in it helps us remember that once upon a time it was our land that was al icted by war and poverty, and that we can give thanks that today we live in relative peace and prosperity.

“Given the state of many other parts of the world, it is right that we use this anniversary to remind us of our duties and obligations to protect and care for the stranger, the migrant, the traveller and the pilgrim.”

The weekend was the first in a series of events to mark signficant milestones in the history of the church, which was built on the site of the 12th century abbey associated with King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore) and his Queen, St Margaret.

It was followed on March 10 by the staging of a play, ‘Bones, Bogles and Coronets’, depicting the time around the discovery of Bruce’s remains, and featuring an appearance by Dunfermline singer Barbara Dickson.

This article appears in the April 2018 Issue of Life and Work

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