Saturday, 25^th July is the feast of St James the Apostle, patron of our parish. James, brother of John the Evangelist. He was a fisherman when he was called by Jesus. He is believed to be the first of the apostles to die for Christ about the year 44.  Tradition holds that St James brought the Gospel to Spain.  For centuries, the scallop shell of St James, typically found on the sea-coast in Galicia, northern Spain, has been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago, and its pilgrims. Pilgrims returned to their countries of origin wearing the scallop concha shell over their habit or hat to demonstrate that they had reached Santiago and its famous gothic cathedral.  According to tradition, when the remains of St James were originally unearthed, it was said to be covered in scallop shells.