roaronag, in Muckairn; Teampull Ronan of Ness, in Lewis; Port Ronan,
in Iona. At his death in 737 A.D., S. Ronan was abbot of Kingarth, in
Bute. Connected with the church of Strowan is a Ronan pool on the Earn,
and a bell remains from the old days. An adjacent farm is called Carse
of Trowan.

The old church of Monzievaird on the east avenue to Ochtertyre, and now
the private burial-place of the Murrays, is dedicated to S. Serf. But
his legend may be reserved till we reach Dunning, at the end of our
narrative.

The next in order of the old Celtic Churches on the Earn is that at
Strogeit, or usually Strageath. This church and churchyard are close on
the Earn, at a very picturesque spot, where are two very old mills--one
on each side of the river--and a mill-dam between, and serving for both.
The church is dedicated to S. Patrick, of Ireland, and was planted by an
Irish missionary called S. Fergus.

Patricius was bishop and confessor--his day of death and commemoration,
March 17, 493. He was the son of Calphurnius, a Roman decurio or
magistrate at Dumbarton, his mother being Conkessa, sister or niece of
the great S. Martin of Tours. He was born at Kilpatrick, on the Clyde,
and called Succat=Succoth, the name of a neighbouring estate. At
sixteen, Patrick was carried off to Ireland by pirates, and sold to a
chief, Michul of Antrim, where he served six years, when he escaped to
Scotland. He then went to S. Germanus of Auxerre for forty (more
probably four) years' study. After becoming monk with his uncle S.
Martin, he visited Rome, and was sent to Ireland, where he laboured sixty
years, consecrating 365 churches and bishops, and ordaining 300--some say
3000--presbyters. Writings of S. Patrick are his "Confessions"--"Hymn
before Tara," called "Breastplate," in eleven verses, and "Letter to
Caroticus, Caradoc, or Ceretic Guledig," from whom the kings of Alcluith,
Patrick's birthland, were descended. (See Christian Classics--The
Writings of Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland. Religious Tract Society,
London.) S. Patrick's churches in Scotland are sixteen, of which three
are in Muthill--viz., Strogeit, on the Earn; S. Patrick's, at
Blairinroar; and S. Patrick's, at Struthill; each of the two latter
having a S. Patrick's Well, anciently used in baptism. At Blairinroar,
five miles west from Muthill, two or three cot-houses still bear the name
S. Patrick's, but I don't know that the site of the original chapel is
ident