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It even survived an attack on March Margaret's death in 1093.
14,1314, during the Wars of Independence. Dr. Selby Wright also wrote to Queen
Robert the Bruce, whose policy was to de‐ Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, to ask if her
stroy all the castle's buildings, to avoid daughter, Princess Margaret, might be ap‐
their recapture by the English, decreed that pointed as the Guild's Patron. Princess
the little chapel be spared. On his Margaret agreed, and served as the Patron
deathbed in 1329 he spoke of Queen Mar‐ for her saintly namesake until her death in
garet and bequeathed 40 pounds for any 2002, when her niece Princess Anne contin‐
chapel repair. ued the tradition.
In the 1530s the royal family moved In 1993, to honor the 900th anniversary
from the castle to Holy‐ of the death of St. Mar‐
rood Palace--down the hill garet, the Guild partici‐
at the other end of the pated in a major
Royal Mile. No longer refurbishment of the
used for worship, for some chapel, with special
300 years--from the early wooden benches made
16th century until the and a new custom altar
mid-1800s—the tiny chapel cloth. Queen Elizabeth
was used to store gun‐ II, Prince Philip, and
powder! Its origins were Princess Margaret at‐
forgotten and only redis‐ tended this celebration.
covered in 1845 by the an‐ Today a guidebook
tiquary Sir Daniel Wilson. sells in the chapel on
It has undergone several the honor system for
restorations--including two pounds. Since the
one in 1853 supported by 1950s, over 2 million
Queen Victoria--and in have been printed, with the donations en‐
1922 the small windows were replaced with abling the Guild to assist with disasters--
gorgeous stained glass by designer Dr. and charities, especially those named after
Douglas Strachan--representing St. Mar‐ St. Margaret. ("Margaret" is derived from
garet, St. Ninian, and St. Columba. the Greek word "Margarites" for "pearl".)
In 1942 the Very Reverend Dr. Ronald
Selby Wright, then minister of Canongate So just who was St. Margaret?
Kirk, thought it would be nice to have fresh
flowers in the chapel to welcome visitors.
He put an ad in the local newspaper, asking A member of the English royal family
for women named Margaret to volunteer (her grandfather was Edmund Ironside--
for this task. The response was over‐ King of England in 1016), she was born in
whelming and St. Margaret's Chapel Guild Hungary in 1047, one of three children.
was formed. Membership is open to any‐ Known as Margaret of Wessex, she was ed‐
one with the name Margaret--and also to ucated in the Benedictine tradition and, like
schools, churches and other organizations her sister, Christina, planned to become a
named after St. Margaret. They meet once nun. At a young age, she returned to Eng‐
a year at the castle on St. Margaret's Day, land with her family when her father was
November 16, the anniversary of Queen called back as a potential successor to the
74 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER 2025
