196 Dumfries, Scotland, Ruthwell Church and its eighth century cross.

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 196 Dumfries, Scotland, Ruthwell Church and its eighth century cross.


The most famous thing about this church is that it holds the Ruthwell cross, a stone Anglo-Saxon cross thought to date from the 8th century. The decoration of the cross includes a very old runic inscription. At that time this part of Scotland belonged to the Kingdom of Northumbria.


It has had an exciting history. It was damaged in 1642 during presbyterian rebellions.


The largest panel on the cross seems to show “Christ as Judge recognised by the beasts in the desert” Below it we have Saint Paul and Saint Anthony breaking bread. On the other side, Mary Magdalene is drying Jesus’s feet and there are a number of other biblical scenes. There are inscriptions in Latin, and a runic poem which may date from the time, but may have been added a couple of hundred years later.

The church is still today at the centre of a small active parish.

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