The Coming Of Patrick

Patrick, a son of a Christian family in southern Scotland, was carried off to Ireland by pirates about 376 A. D. Here, in slavery, he gave his heart to God and, after six years of servitude, escaped, returning to his home in Scotland. But he could not forget the spiritual need of these poor heathen, and after ten years he returned to Ireland as a missionary of the Celtic church. “He had now reached his thirtieth year [390 A. D].” — “The Ancient British and Irish Churches,” William Cathcart, D. D., p. 70.FAFA 134.4

Dr. E. Pagit says that “Saint Patrick had in his day founded there 365 churches.” — “Christianography,” Part 2, p.10.FAFA 135.1

Dr. August Neander says of Patrick:FAFA 135.2

“The place of his birth was Bonnaven, which lay between the Scottish towns Dumbarton and Glasgow, and was then reckoned to the province of Britain. This village, in memory of Patricius, received the name of Kil-Patrick or Kirk-Patrick. His father, a deacon in the village church, gave him a careful education.” — “General History of the Christian Religion and Church,” Vol. II, p. 122. Boston: 1855.

Patrick himself writes in his “Confession“:FAFA 135.3

“I, Patrick, ... had Calpornius for my father, a deacon, a son of the late Potitus, the presbyter.... I was captured. I was almost sixteen years of age ... and taken to Ireland in captivity with many thousand men.” — “The Ancient British and Irish Churches,” William Cathcart, D. D., p. 127.FAFA 135.4