Dunfermline Abbey #3

Dunfermline Abbey is a Church of Scotland Parish Church located in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The church occupies the site of the ancient chancel... more

by John Fotheringham

Title

Dunfermline Abbey #3

Artist

John Fotheringham

Medium

Photograph

Description

Dunfermline Abbey is a Church of Scotland Parish Church located in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The church occupies the site of the ancient chancel and transepts of a large medieval Benedictine abbey, which was sacked in 1560 during the Scottish Reformation . Dunfermline Abbey is one of Scotland's most important cultural sites.

The Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Trinity and St Margaret, was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland, but the monastic establishment was based on an earlier foundation dating back to the reign of King Máel Coluim mac Donnchada (i.e. "Malcolm III" or "Malcolm Canmore", r. 1058-93) and his queen. At its head was an abbot, the first incumbent being Geoffrey of Canterbury, former prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, the Kent monastery that probably supplied Dunfermline's first monks. At the peak of its power it controlled four burghs, three courts of regality and a large portfolio of lands from Moray in the north down into Berwickshire.[2]

During the winter of 1303 the court of Edward I of England was held in the abbey, and on his departure next year most of the buildings were burned.

Uploaded

December 16th, 2014