St Margaret's Pilgrimage may have been cancelled, but churches in Dunfermline have got together to celebrate the saint online this Sunday.

A special ecumenical service will be available on Facebook and YouTube at 3pm, recorded at the Abbey Church in the historic West Fife town.

Fr Chris Heenan of St Margaret's Memorial Church, who leads the organisation of the annual pilgrimage, said: "I hope this will be a consolation for all the pilgrims who would have visited our town to mark the life of this extraordinary Saint.

"It's a lovely service, with good music, and it was great to collaborate with others to make it happen."

'New bonds'

Rev MaryAnn Rennie, Minister at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, said: “Our congregations have formed new bonds through this annual celebration of the life of St Margaret and we felt it would be good to bring people together again online, even if we cannot be physically present together.

“A special pre-recorded service, including contributions from St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church, Holy Trinity Church and the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, will be broadcast online on YouTube and Facebook Live at 3pm on Sunday afternoon (07 June ) – which coincides with when the pilgrims would have entered St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church."

"The service includes prayers and readings read by members of all three congregations and a song about Margaret written by Wayne Pearce, minister of Edzell Lethnot Glenesk linked with Fern Careston Menmuir, and will bring all people together with an interest in the life of this saint, whose life and faith was firmly rooted in Dunfermline.”

Every June hundreds of people flock to Dunfermline to take part in the pilgrimage honouring the life of St Margaret, who lived in the Fife town throughout her reign in the 11th century and who was known for her piety and charity. A procession taks place through the town centre with a relic of the saint (main picture).

Last year a special ecumenical service opened the day at Dunfermline Abbey, the home of an outdoor shrine to St Margaret, who lived on the site.

The service will be broadcast at 3pm on Sunday 07 June on the Facebook page of St Margaret's Memorial Church and on Dunfermline Abbey's YouTube channel.