Investigating the Church and Cloister Are a Good Source of Inspiration Sweetheart Abbey for a Study of Medieval Scotland

Sweetheart Abbey is the heart of the tiny community of New Abbey. The ruins of INVESTIGATING the church and cloister are a good source of inspiration SWEETHEART ABBEY for a study of medieval Scotland. Information for Teachers investigating historic sites sweetheart Abbey 2 Sweetheart Abbey is the heart of was enthroned as King of Scots in 1292 the tiny community of New Abbey. but then stripped of his regalia by Timeline The romantic ruins of the church Edward I of England in 1296. 1273 Lady Devorgilla and cloister are still beautiful and In the fourteenth century the abbey founds Cistercian a visit here is a good source of Sweetheart Abbey came under the patronage of Archibald inspiration for a study of medieval ‘the Grim’ Douglas, Lord of Galloway. His 1292 John Balliol, son Scotland. donations enabled the monks to rebuild of Devorgilla enthroned King of Scotland by Historical background after the wars. Edward I of England When John Balliol, founder of Balliol In the sixteenth century the local Lord 1296 John Balliol College, Oxford, died in 1269, his wife, Maxwell, a devout Catholic, became an stripped of kingship by Lady Devorgilla was distraught. Not ardent supporter of Sweetheart. When Edward I content with carrying his embalmed he was orderd to destroy the buildings 1299 Abbey property heart with her at all times, she founded following the Reformation of 1560, he damaged during a Cistercian monastery in his memory. refused. This defiant attitude persisted hostilities with England The abbey was named Sweetheart with the last abbot of the abbey, Gilbert 1380s Archibald ‘the Abbey in tribute to her wifely devotion. Broun. Refusing to adopt Protestantism, Grim’, Earl of Douglas he remained at the abbey until 1587 This was the last monastery of any patronises Sweetheart before he was forced into exile. size to be established in Scotland. The Abbey He returned twice more, enduring Cistercian order was characterised 1381 Abbey struck by imprisonment in Blackness Castle and by austerity and their abbeys were lightning the burning of his Catholic books and traditionally sited in remote places, to artefacts before he finally gave in. He post-1513 Abbey under which they brought sheep farming and protection of Earl of died in France in 1612. wealth from wool exports. Maxwell The buildings of the abbey gradually fell The abbey buildings rose swiftly, with 1587 Last abbot refuses into ruin, a convenient source of stone enough in place by the end of the to abandon Catholicism; for local buildings. In 1779 a group of thirteenth century for over £5000 worth forced into exile local people banded together to raise of damage to be inflicted on abbey 1731 New church built funds to preserve what was left of the property during the first stages of the against south wall of old abbey church. Finally in 1928 the wars with England. The damage may nave; demolished in 1877 abbey church and surrounding ruins have been due to its royal connections. 1779 Church acquired by were taken into state care. Devorgilla’s son, also called John Balliol local gentry to ensure its preservation 1928 Abbey taken into state care HISTORIC SCOTLAND education sweetheart Abbey 3 Monk Fact File Daily Programme Who were the monks of How was the monastery A monk’s life was dedicated Sweetheart Abbey? organised? to serving god and his day was structured around a The monastery at Sweetheart Abbey At the head of the monastery was programme of prayers and was a Cistercian monastery. Founded the abbot, responsible for the services. In summer, the at Citeaux in France in 1098, this order overall spiritual life of the monastery. programme might be as of monk lived very simply and humbly, However, he was often absent involved follows: often in remote places. Monks were in meetings with the Parliament and the monarch. Below him were 0130 Prayers followed usually adults who entered the order by sung service of their own free will and tended to a number of other office bearers, Nocturns come from better-off local families. The known as the obedientaries. The majority spent their entire lives within prior was responsible for the day to 0330 Matins prayers. the abbey, devoting themselves to a day organization and discipline of the Back to bed. formal round of worship and abbey monastery. Below him were a number 0600 Prime prayers works. To start a monastery there had to of other office bearers with other – first mass of the be thirteen monks, representing Christ responsibilities as follows: sacristan – day and the twelve disciples, sent out from church furnishings; precentor – church Chapter Meeting. another abbey and accompanied by ten services: cellarar – food, drink and fuel; kitchener – cooking; fraterer – the 0800 Terce prayers and lay brothers. They lived communally, sung mass following strictly the rules set out by running of the refectory, crockery, table St Benedict in the sixth century. The linen; chamberlain – housekeeping 0900 Reading monks dedicated their lives to opus dei including care for clothes; almoner 1130 Sext prayers – the work of god, an ceaseless round – distribution of charity to the needy. 1200 Main meal of the of prayer and at least in the early days, Other jobs included responsibility for day. Rest and of manual labour. They lived a life of the sick, visitors, the church treasures private prayer. poverty, chastity and strict obedience to and so on. Within the monastery there the rules of the order. The abbey itself, also lived between twenty and forty 1430 None prayers. however, became wealthy on the back lay brothers, who were the working Physical work of sheep farming and wool exports. The members of the community and took 1730 Supper monks themselves wore rough, undyed on many of the roles of servants and white habits and so were often known workmen. 1800 Vespers as the white monks. 1930 Light supper, followed by Compline service. 2015 Bed time HISTORIC SCOTLAND education sweetheart Abbey 4 What was it like to be a monk? Work ranged from gardening and farming to copying manuscripts. After Monasteries were generally wealthy the initial enthusiasm at the founding organizations, often receiving of the order, hard physical labour patronage and donations from the tended to be carried out by the lay crown and noble families. This meant brothers. that the inmates of a monastery were free from the many usual insecurities Food was generally vegetarian and of medieval life. Having said that, frugal, consisting mainly of bread, the life of the monks was founded vegetables and eggs. Fish was served on austerity and frugality, although on a Friday and important visitors certain abbots ended up living would be offered meat on other days. comfortable lives in houses separate After washing their hands outside the from the abbey altogether. refectory, the monks would file through in silence; grace would be said, a gong Their lives were communal and would sound and then the meal could controlled to an extent which is hard begin. Throughout the main meal a for us to imagine today. They slept in monk would read from a religious text. their habits in order to be ready for Meals were eaten in silence; however night services and even when sleeping sign languages evolved to enable followed the Rule about how their monks to request certain items. arms should be folded. Monks were required to keep total silence – apart Aside from seasonal variations and from the sung prayers – between annual religious events, life was Compline and Prime. Outwith those punctuated by certain domestic rituals hours there were occasions when or events. Every week the monks would quiet speech was permitted in certain wash each others feet in a ritual known areas of the Abbey. as the maundy. Every three weeks or so there would be communal head Second only in importance to prayer shaving to maintain the tonsure. was the daily Chapter meeting. At this meeting, monks read a chapter The number of monks at Sweetheart from St Benedict’s Rule, the sixth was small and members of the century guidebook for a monastic community would live together for life. Any administrative issues were a long time. The closeness of the also discussed here and monks were community and the tranquility and able to confess and be disciplined serenity of the routine provided a accordingly. secure environment in the service of god, which was certainly attractive to a select number. HISTORIC SCOTLAND education sweetheart Abbey 5 Supporting learning and teaching A visit to Sweetheart Abbey is particularly appropriate Before the visit Working on site for teachers working on class • It would be helpful if pupils had Pupils should be encouraged to look study topics such as: an idea of some of the key terms for physical evidence. Useful starting • The Middle Ages relating to the abbey life e.g. points are: • The Reformation monastery, monk, abbot, lay • What materials were used to The Curriculum for brother, nave, tower, aisle, altar, Excellence aspires to construct the abbey? Where did they chapter, chapel, Reformation, motivate and challenge pupils come from? Why have some survived Mass, tomb. These and other through a wide range of and not others? varied learning experiences. terms could be collated into a class Site visits have a particular dictionary. • How was the abbey protected role to play in joining up against intruders? • The abbey has changed dramatically learning outcomes across the • Can you see any ways in which the curriculum. A visit, and use of over the years. Discuss with pupils the supporting materials, will how and why buildings change. abbey has changed? help to: Discuss how wind and weather can • What evidence is there for daily life? • develop successful affect a building as well as deliberate Pupils can record by: learners by challenging destruction.

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