It is quite hard to find out much about St Baldred. The evidence comes from a combination of documentary sources, place names
and archaeology; but he still remains a very mysterious figure as you shall see.
St Baldred is recorded in the Aberdeen Breviary as having died in 608AD. Here he is described as eminently devout. He renounced all worldly pomp and resided in solitary places, and betook himself to the islands of the sea. Among these he had recourse to one called The Bass, where he led a life, without all question, strict and contemplative.
The miracles associated with St Baldred himself include the story of St Baldred’s boat. While praying on the Bass he became aware of some fishing boats in danger of being driven by the waves against a rock. St Baldred prayed to God and the rock miraculously moved, saving the fishermen from drowning. To this day the rock is known as St Baldred’s boat. There are a
number of other place names associated with St Baldred including St Baldred’s well in East Linton and St Baldred’s cave.
Another St Baldred or St Balthere, is recorded in another early document written by Symeon of Durham. This St Baldred is recorded as having died in 757AD and in the life of St Cuthbert he is described as being responsible for the lands from Lammermuir to Eskmouth. This is typical of the problems of unscrambling this period of history, but it does seem that there may have been two different saints and this second St Baldred came from the Lindisfarne monastery and may have been Flemish in origin. One of the miracles associated with him happened after his death and supports the founding legends of three local churches. Auldhame, Tyninghame and Prestonkirk were in dispute over who should claim his body (and thus become the shrine of St Baldred). ‘A holy man’ instructed them to spend the night in prayer and in the morning, lo and behold, there were three St Baldreds, all identical, shrouded and ready for burial!
A PRAYER FOR ST BALDRED
(from the Aberdeen Breviary of AD 1510)
O God, who through the contemplative
life of the blessed Baldred, thy bishop
and confessor, hast conferred ineffable
grace on thy servants; grant, we beseech
thee, that by his merits and intercessions
we may be able to obtain in all things the
saving help of thy mercy. Through our Lord.AMEN
The St Baldred’s window, which depicts the dawning of Christianity in East Lothian, on the west wall of 
the church, was designed and made by Dr Ray Wiseman, a member of the congregation. The statue of St Baldred, which stands in front of the window, was created by a senior pupil from North Berwick High School.