Margaret impressed not only Malcolm but many other members of
the Scottish Court both for her knowledge of continental customs
gained in the court of Hungary, and also for her piety. She
became highly influential, both indirectly by her influence on
Malcolm as well as through direct activities on her part.
Prominent among these activities was religious reform. Margaret
instigated reforms within the Scottish church, as well as
development of closer ties to the larger Roman Church in order
to avoid a schism between the Celtic Church and Rome. Further,
Margaret was a patroness both of the célidé, Scottish Christian
hermits, and also the Benedictine Order. Although Benedictine
monks were prominent throughout western continental Europe,
there were previously no Benedictine monasteries known to exist
in Scotland. Margaret therefore invited English Benedictine
monks to establish monasteries in her kingdom. On the more
secular side, Margaret introduced continental fashions, manners,
and ceremony to the Scottish court