- Whithorn Priory
Whithorn Priory is located in
Wigtownshire ,Galloway . It was founded about the middle of thetwelfth century , in the reign of David I, by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, withGille Aldan ,Bishop of Galloway , forPremonstratensian Canons, referred colloquially in Britain as the White Canons.The canons of
Whithorn formed the chapter of theDiocese of Galloway , which was re-established about the same time, also by Fergus, the old succession of bishops having died out in the eighth or ninth centuries. Theprior stood next in rank to thebishop , as we see from the order of signatories to an espiscopal charter early in thethirteenth century ; and he and his community enjoyed the right of electing the bishop, although this right was occasionally overruled in favour of the secular clergy by theArchbishop of York , of which see Galloway was a suffragan for several centuries.The full list of priors has not been preserved; among them were: Maurice, who swore fealty to King
Edward I of England in 1296 ; Gavin Dunbar (1514 ), who rose to beArchbishop of Glasgow ; andJames Beaton , successively Archbishop of Glasgow and ofSt. Andrews , and chancellor of the kingdom. Whithorn was long a noted place of pilgrimage, owing to its connection with the venerated memory ofSaint Ninian . Many Scottish sovereigns, among them Margaret (queen of James III), James IV, and James V, made repeated pilgrimages to thesaint 'sshrine , and left rich offerings behind them. Themonastery , thus endowed, became opulent, and its income at the dissolution was estimated at over £1000. The last prior (Fleming) was committed to prison in1563 for the crime of saying Mass. The whole property of the priory was vested in the Crown by the annexation act of1587 , and was granted in1606 by James VI to the occupant of the See of Galloway when he established Episcopalianism in Scotland in1606 .It continued to belong to the bishopric until the revolution of
1688 , at which date that see was the richest in the kingdom next to St. Andrews and Glasgow. The priory church, which served also as thecathedral of the diocese, had a longnave withoutaisle s, achoir of about the same length, and a ladychapel beyond. In1684 the nave and westerntower were still intact; but the existing remains consist only of the roofless nave and the extensive vaulted crypts constructed under the eastern end of the church. Such restoration as was possible has been carefullyReferences
ee also
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Prior of Whithorn , for a list of priors and commendators
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