The Scicluna Windows

In St Mary’s Parish Church

On the north side is depicted “Saint Margaret of Tarsus” a Mediterranean Christian Saint. She wears a necklace of pearls – ‘Pearl’ was often used as a synonym for Margaret; her crown has pearl finials and she stands on the ‘dragon of evil’. Below the dragon is the depiction of the coat of arms of the Scicluna family, a white horse rearing up to a crescent moon – origin – ally Spanish.

In the window on the south side, is the figure of Saint Helen, again with Mediterranean connotations. St. Helen was the mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor of the East, Byzantium. She went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where she claimed to find remnants of the true cross (c.248-328 AD). Constantine founded Constantinople.

Round her head are green rays which signify the ‘Forest of Cadzow’ where the Cadzow family originated, and at her feet is a large sheep to remind us that the Cadzow family wealth came from sheep farming. The upside down salmon with the ring in its mouth also emphasises the West of Scotland connections of Margaret Helen Cadzow Scicluna

The salmon is also connected with King Loth who lived on Traprain. His daughter, 

The new (or St. Enoch) was the mother of St. Kentigern (or Mungo).

David McManus

Acknowledgement to Mrs. J.D. Ferguson.