History of Dunfermline Abbey:
The Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Trinity and St Margaret, was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland and headed by the Abbot of Dunfermline, the first being Geoffrey of Canterbury, former Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury. At the peak of its power it controlled four burghs, three courts of royalty, and a large portfolio of lands.
During the Scottish Reformation, the abbey church had undergone a first Protestant ‘cleansing’ by September 1559, and was sacked in March 1560. By September 1563 the choir and feretory chapel were roofless, and it was said that the nave was also in a sorry state, with the walls so extensively damaged that it was a danger to enter. Some parts of the abbey infrastructure still remain, principally the vast refectory and rooms over the gatehouse which was part of the former city wall. The nave was also spared and it was repaired in 1570 by Robert Drummond of Carnock. In 1672 parts of the east end collapsed, while in 1716 part of the central tower is said to have fallen, presumably destabilising much that still stood around its base, and the east gable tumbled in 1726. The final collapse of the central tower took place in 1753.
The nave served as the parish church till the 19th century, and now forms the vestibule of a new church. This edifice, in the Perpendicular style, opened for public worship in 1821, occupies the site of the ancient chancel and transepts, though differing in style and proportions from the original structure. Also of the monastery there still remains the south wall of the refectory, with a fine window. Next to the abbey is the ruin of Dunfermline Palace, also part of the original abbey complex and connected to it via the gatehouse.
Dunfermline Abbey, one of Scotland’s most important cultural sites, has received more of Scotland’s royal dead than any other place in the kingdom, excepting Iona. One of the most notable non-royal names to be associated with the abbey is the northern renaissance poet, Robert Henryson. The tomb of Saint Margaret and Malcolm Canmore, within the ruined walls of the Lady chapel, was restored and enclosed by command of Queen Victoria.
In the decades after its foundation the abbey was the recipient of considerable endowments, as seen from the dedication of 26 altars donated by individual benefactors and guilds. The site is unparalleled in Scotland as a royal burial place, serving this role for over 250 years.
Kings and Queens buried beneath the abbey church include Queen Margaret and King Malcolm III, David I, and Robert I.
After 1371, the Stewart dynasty chose to be buried elsewhere. but it rmained an important destination for pilgrims because it hosted the reliquary shrine of Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland.
About Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland:
Margaret was born into royalty in Hungary around 1045. Her father was Edward Atheling, heir to the English throne, and her mother was Princess Agatha of Hungary. Her family returned to England when she was 10 years old, but the Norman Conquest forced them into exile. By this time her father had died, and her mother fled with the children. While fleeing the invading army of William the Conqueror in 1066, her family’s ship was wrecked on the Scottish coast. As a result, they remained in Scotland, where they were assisted by King Malcolm III.
In 1070, at the age of 25, Margaret married King Malcolm. As queen, Margaret’s faith had a strong influence on her husband’s reign. She softened his temper and led him to practice virtue. She dignified the court, providing an example of purity and reverence that led others to follow in her path. She and the king prayed together and fed the hungry, offering a powerful witness of faith to the people they served. They had eight children, including two who later were also named saints.
In addition to being a model wife and mother, Margaret worked tirelessly to bring justice and relief to the poor of Scotland. She also built churches, founded abbeys and encouraged practices of religious devotion. In her private life, she exhibited great prayerfulness and piety. Her influence was seen not only in her husband’s life, but throughout all of Scotland.
Margaret died in 1093, just four days after her husband and one of her sons were killed in battle. She was canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV and named Patron Saint of Scotland in 1673. She is also one of the patron saints of large families.
We celebrate the Feast of Saint Margaret of Scotland on November 16 Her feast day was originally June 10, but was moved to Nov. 16, the day of her death, upon the renewal of the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Traveling to Dunfermline Abbey:
Dunfermline is 20 miles north of Edinburgh, about 3 miles from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. There is train service to Dunfermline.
Address: St Margaret St, Dunfermline KY12 7PE, United Kingdom