Sixteen hundred years ago, St Ninian, who had already undertaken many missionary journeys throughout Cambria, began an evangelical mission through Scotland. All except the northern and western Highlands were touched by God through his ministry. That this was a man filled with God's Spirit seems clear from his early church label Lampa Mundi Luminosa (The world's brightest light) and the records of the signs and wonders that accompanied him, such as:

• Healing of King Tudvallus of injuries to the head and blindness;
• Baby speaking and identifying real father;
• Miracle of vegetable garden growing leeks and herbs on the day of planting;
• Saving of sinking coracle; and
• Planted wooden staff sprouting leaves, branches, and a fountain at its roots

• Youth Night at Whithorn on 11 April
• Erection of the Witness Cairn by Glasgow Churches Together on 11 May;
• An international pilgrimage - Rome, Canterbury, Whithorn 5-6 June;
• a play about St Ninian to be performed at the Swallow Theatre on 13/14 June;
• Coracle construction 30 June - 5 July;
• Ninian to Now, a Great Procession of Praise, which will take place on 6 September;

But in the end, it is the hope of many that these spectacular activities will themselves be outshone by another move of God again amongst the people of the Machars, a move of God that will rekindle the heart of the local community. This way, Whithorn will not be just a well-known place on a tourist map, but again a place of holy worship, spiritual wholeness, and Christian community.

For more information on St Ninian, see St Ninian, edited by Iain MacDonald, Floris Books, Edinburgh 1993. ISBN 0-86315-164-7

For details of the celebrations, please initially contact Machars Action.