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Holyrood Abbey Church of Scotland

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Drever
Drever
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Holyrood Abbey

  • May 16, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Drever from Ayr
Holyrood Abbey

What remains of Holyrood Abbey is the ruined and roofless nave of its church. However in Scotland’s history it looms large.

King David I founded the Augustinian Abbey in 1128. Tradition has it that he created it on the spot where he had a vision of a stag with a cross between its antlers - the Abbey's symbol! A more imposing building, commissioned in 1190 replaced the original Norman style with Early English architecture.

David set up the Abbey as a Sanctuary for criminals and debtors. If accepted and on payment of a booking fee, the debtor received a ‘Letters of protection’ from creditors. The debtor was then safe to live within the Sanctuary, free from risk of arrest. Debtors crowded into houses within the protective zone. It covered a large part of present-day Edinburgh.

During the final 200 years of the sanctuary, Holyrood sheltered around 2,000 people. These included pastors, lawyers, officers of the army and navy and members of the aristocracy. The ancient right of sanctuary within the grounds of Holyrood still exists however the need for a debtors' sanctuary ended in 1880 with abolition of imprisonment for debt.

In addition a community of trades people, shopkeepers, innkeepers and residents chose to live within the Sanctuary. This gave it the feel of being a town, independent of control from Edinburgh. David had created in effect a self-governing, self-financing prison - surely a better idea than politicians have since created. Top marks to the King!

The abbey church preserved in a golden reliquary a fragment of the Cross of Christ’s crucifixion, brought from Waltham Abbey by David’s mother. The relic known as the Black Rood of Scotland (‘rood’ means cross) in 1346 fell into the hands of invading English forces. Transferred to Durham Cathedral it disappeared during the Reformation.

For 450 years the Abbey hosted major royal events similar to those hosted now by Westminster Abbey in London. On July 22, 1565, the Mary, Queen of Scots married her cousin Lord Darnley in the church. The Scottish coronation of Charles I took place here in 1633.

In the 16th century, James IV built Holyrood Palace next to the abbey. Kings previously stayed at the Abbey when in Edinburgh but this cemented its place in royal pageantry.

King James VII in 1687 created ‘The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle’, Scotland's leading Order of Chivalry. The nave of Holyrood Abbey became its chapel. In 1688, the Edinburgh mob ransacked the Abbey, furious at King James' Roman Catholic devotion. It was only in 1911 the Order regained a home – this time in Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile.

Following the Reformation, the abbey became deserted. However the church became a parish Kirk until in 1768 the roof collapsed in a hurricane and brought down much of the building with it.

Access to the Abbey is through the entrance to Holyrood Palace. Step lightly for you will be treading on the graves of kings

From journal Exploring Edinburgh and Glasgow

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