John Woodside is a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Aberdeen and has resided in the Aberdeenshire coastal town of Banff for many years. Before moving north, he was the custodian of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Collections at the Blairs Museum, located at the former Junior Seminary, a few miles south of Aberdeen by the River Dee.
He has continued to foster a deeply felt interest in local history and culture, tradition and legend. This led naturally into searching out the local saints, researching further afield when Bishop Hugh Gilbert asked him to compile a little book of saints connected with the whole diocese as it is today. The list grew – and grew – until it became the book now on offer, with a second edition published in 2023.
Our Scottish saints, many of whom are deeply shrouded in the mists of legends, were almost – but not quite – lost to us, and are to be found throughout Northern Scotland, within the diocese of Aberdeen from Stonehaven to Shetland, from Dornie to Fraserburgh, Deeside to Durness, and most points in between. We may have missed someone; if so, do let us know and, better still, do your own research.
John is an experienced pastor, missiologist, evangelist, spiritual advisor and speaker who has facilitated retreats, ecumenical workshops, days of recollection, and pilgrimages that often integrate a contemporary Christian celtic-style spirituality expressed through contextual praxis with prayer, contemplation, Lectio Divina, and music. He holds a Masters Degree that includes specialisms in Mission, Evangelism, and Celtic Spirituality.
Would you like to invite John to speak about his book, Celtic Saints or Pilgrimage, at your event please contact him using the form below? Thank you.