A sermon in stone in Underwood Road

Although the Irish monk, Mirin, is Paisley’s patron saint, we should not forgot another holy man has been highly esteemed by the townspeople for centuries past and present.

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St James the Great was one of Christ's 12 Apostles. After he died around 44 AD, his remains were taken to Spain and buried at Santiago de Compestella.

His shrine was a place of pilgrimage for abbots and monks from Paisley Abbey until the 16th century Reformation.

Pilgrims completing the journey received a scallop seashell. It reminded them St James was originally a fisherman.

The scallop shell inspired ornamental carvings on stone pillars at Dunn Square in Paisley town centre.

St James is commemorated too by two Paisley churches, and also by a Masonic Lodge, a park, a street and an interchange.