The Rùna Ríngan folk warmly invite all to an open afternoon at St Ninian’s Bay on Bute. Their guest speaker is the well-respected author, Donna Brewster. Donna is a renowned authority on the life of St Ninian, Scotland’s first Christian apostle and earliest native saint. Donna was attached to the Whithorn Trust. Her novel reconstructing the life of St Ninian, ‘My Ninian’, was well received. She has visited every St Ninian’s site site in Scotland. Bute’s unique clustering of St Ninian’s Bay, Point and Chapel has a special place for her. The event is entirely free. It will start at Ballianlay Hall where Donna will talk on the Life of Ninian. This will be followed by locally-sourced refreshments, many home-made or home-grown on Bute. Friends from Bute, Arran, Ayrshire and Edinburgh will also talk of the special meaning for today of St Ninian’s on Bute. Ninian was born in AD360 at Whithorn in Wigtownshire. His family were Romanised Britons, living just beyond Hadrian’s Wall. Like many Britons they were nominally Christians. Ninian trained as a priest then returned to be the first person to preach the gospel to the Picts. Wherever he went he left a presence. After his death his followers continued his work. Today the name Ninian appears in hundreds of sites across southern and north eastern Scotland, from the Borders to Shetland, marking the territory of the mighty Picts. The Rùna Ríngan (‘roona ring-gan’) folk take their name from an ancient local Bute name for Ninian. It means ‘dear Ninian’. They are Christians committed to acting in the Spirit of Ninian that is found in this special place on Bute. They meet every 16th of the month around midday at the sixth century St Ninian’s Chapel to share, pray and read together. Again, all are welcome. St Ninian's is a peaceful place, set in a spectacular panorama of sand, sea, islands and peninsulas. There is a beautiful beach and bay. There are peaceful cattle, otters, birds and abundant insect and plant life. There is ample parking at the hall in Straad. Afterwards there is a walk of about 1km around St Ninian’s Bay to the Point and Chapel. Wear strong boots or wellies, and be prepared for changeable weather. The walk may be guided, and there will be time for sharing or silent contemplation. If you need a lift to Straad from Rothesay then please text Dr John Sutherland on 07594978674. If you are coming by ferry then we advise you catch the 11.30am ferry from Wemyss Bay.