Saint Margaret

This article was originally published in Progress, the monthly magazine of Romford Congregational Church, in April 1950.

I wonder if any of you have heard of the story of Saint Margaret? I came across it in a book the other day and thought you might be interested. She was a princess in England nearly a thousand years ago and with her brother, the King, was driven out of the country. They escaped in a boat and made their way up the coast. In a storm they were driven ashore in Scotland, which was then a separate kingdom. When King Malcolm heard of their arrival he invited them to stay with him, which they were glad to do. After a time Malcolm married Margaret and she became Queen of Scotland.

Queen Margaret soon made a great difference in the castle. She loved to wear beautiful clothes and have bright things around her. She taught the servants to keep things nice and to be cleaner in their work. It was not only in her own home, however, that Margaret made changes. She at once began to help subjects in every possible way. Every day all those who were in any kind of need made their way to the castle and the Queen herself attended to them, giving them food, clothing, medicine or money.

Many people in those days had no opportunity for any kind of learning, and so Queen Margaret started schools for them, where they learned to read and write and also do weaving and embroidery so that they, too, could have more beautiful homes and clothes. Churches were built too, so that the people might worship God, and Margaret taught them to keep Sunday as God's day. 

It was her own love for God and her desire to serve Jesus Christ that led Saint Margaret to devote her life to serving others. We should remember, as she did, the words of Jesus: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me". 

​H.M.H

Malcolm greeting Margaret at her arrival in Scotland; detail of a mural by Victorian artist William Hole