One of the first religious figures in Scotland was St. Ninian. He took the word of God into Scotland in the late 4th Century and is said to have converted the Southern Picts to Christianity, although the Picts later renounced it. Other saints were to follow his example, and by A.D.560 St Kentigern (St Mungo) had founded his church in Glasgow. King David I of Scots encouraged the Institution of Knights Templar to set up cells in Scotland, and this type of society spread over many years, until Alexander II, in 1241, granted to Bishop William of Glasgow and his successors the lands around Glasgow.

      (with thanks to Bill Taylor)

As a result, the areas of Badermonoc, Possele and Kenmure (including Lambhill) were to be held forever in free forest on pain of a £10 fine for tree-cutting or stag-hunting in this 'Bishop's Forest'. In 1312 the Templars were suppressed by order of Pope Clement V and their lands were given to the Knights Hospitallers. The area became known as Terrae Templariai .. or generally "Temple", which name survives to this day .. but still remained as the Bishops Forest under the Superiority of the Bishops or Archbishops of Glasgow. The folk lived under the rustic life of the farmer and fisher, with some contact with the great Churchmen who hunted in the area.