Very little is known of him; he is generally mentioned only in connection with his more famous nephewSaint Blane, who was born on Bute and later proselytized among thePicts. Both saints were strongly associated with Bute and withKingarth monastery, which became the center of their cults.[3][4]
A number of churches were dedicated to Cathan across Scotland's western islands.
Tobar Chattan, or Cathan's Well, at Little Kilchattan on Bute may represent the site of Cathan's original church.[3]
Kilchattan Church onLuing.[5][6][7] The Luing church served the historical Kilchattan parish; the modern Kilchattan Church was built at Achafolla in 1936.[8]
Cathan is said to have lived for a time at the monastery atStornoway on the isle ofLewis, and hisrelics are said to have been housed at a chapel founded byClan MacLeod on the same island.[9]
Several families on Bute bore the honoured name of Mac-gill-chattan—son of the servant of Catan and on account of the frequent occurrence of names similarly connected with those of saints who had churches dedicated to them in this vicinity e.g., Mac-gill-munn, Macgill-chiaran, Mac-gill-mhichell,—and connected with church offices, Mac-gill-espy (bishop), Mac-gill-Christ etc.
Cattanachs are said to be families that followed or were originally servants orCoarbs of this saint and include founder families such as Macbean, MacPherson, and MacPhail[12] of theChattan Confederation, a coalition ofScottish clans.[9]
^Hewison, James. King; The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time, with illustrations, maps and plans Vol 1 Celtic Saints and Heroes, Published by William Blackwood and sons, Edinburgh and London, 1893
