Stone of Doncha

An ancient standing stone occupies a field close by the kirk at Dunning in Perthshire. It is associated with Doncha, Abbot of Dunkeld, who was killed in 964 at the Battle of Duncrub (sometimes called the Battle of Dorsum Crup). It was fought between Cuilén MacIlluilb and Dub MacMaíl Coluim. This was so long ago that kings had these rather peculiar names, but it would seem that King Dub won the day. Quite what Abbot Doncha was doing at the battle one cannot say, though he is surely another contender for the Daftest Name Award. I suspect that the stone is actually much older and belongs to the Bronze Age rather than the Middle Ages. The stone might therefore have commemorated an even earlier battle, fought between armies of whose even weirder-named leaders leave no trace at all, whose very existence is forgotten.

Though we have forgotten those who have gone before us, and few of us are able to recount names beyond our great-grandparents' (the more recent examples of which would have been very ordinary), the God of heaven remembers them all. He beheld every battle, observed each birth and noted every death. The past is no mystery to Him any more than the present or the times to come. Such things are beyond our finite minds and banks of knowledge; I even forget the names of people to whom I have just been introduced. Our ultimate purpose, however, is to remember Him and to cease resisting and battling His purposes.

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Psalm 77:4-6

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

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