Requiem Mass for Prince Charles Edward: January 31st 2018

Look with favour, we pray, on the offerings we make for the soul of Your servant Charles Edward, that, being cleansed by heavenly remedies, his soul may be ever alive and blessed in Your glory, through Christ our Lord....

It is of course the abiding purpose of the Battle Trust in Prestonpans that Prince Charles Edward's 'soul may be ever alive' ... and so it was well fitting that this year, 2018, began with a solemn remembrance of his life until he died in Rome 230 years ago. For 2018 is scheduled in our scheme of affairs to see his Victory hereabouts re-enacted on September 15th/ 16th. But preceding what will be the most ambitious staging of the re-enactment since 1995's 250th Anniversary, will be a Service of Dedication at Greenhills.

The two new Memorial Tables, listing the Clans and Regiments that fought on September 21st 1745, sculpted by Gardner Molloy, will be dedicated on Saturday September 15th just before 11am after a Procession from Meadowmill to The Greehills.

Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Catholic Archbishop of St Andrew's & Edinburgh at St Margaret's Chapel, Gillis Centre, Edinburgh

The 1745 Battle Trust had asked Archbishop Leo Cushley to Celebrate, working in partnership with the 1745 Association, The Stewart Society and the Northumbrian Jacobite Society - all of whom were well represented at the Mass whether Catholic or of other persuasions. The Provost of East Lothian John MacMillan was also in attendance.

click on images below to enlarge


After the Mass a Reception was given for the Archbishop in the Gillis Centre Library where Herbert Coutts KM MBE, who had taken responsibility for arranging events with the Chapel, thanked all for attending and was in his turned thanked by all present. Also attending [pictured] were Arran Johnston [left] Director of the Scottish Battlefields Trust and Dr Gordon Prestoungrange MBE, Joint Chairman with Herbert Coutts of the 1745 Battle Trust in Prestonpans.