Famous as Scotland’s ‘cradle of Christianity’, the site INVESTIGATING of Whithorn Priory and the museum of carved WHITHORN PRIORY stones today illuminate our understanding of these early times. & MUSEUM Information for Teachers investigating historic sites whithorn priory and museum 2 Whithorn is one of Scotland’s elaborate carved stones were originally most ancient tourist destinations. part of the Whithorn landscape, many Timeline Famous as Scotland’s ‘cradle of them standing within the grounds Early 5th century Ninian of Christianity’, the site of the of the early church and monastery. establishes church and priory and the museum of carved As a collection they demonstrate the community at Whithorn stones today illuminate our prestige and influence of Whithorn from c450 ‘Latinus’ stone understanding of these early times. around the 7th-11th centuries. erected; oldest Christian stone in Scotland Following periods under Northumbrian 7th century ‘Peter’ Historical background and Viking rule, the community was stone erected outside reinvigorated in the 12th century, Ninian, a local bishop, is said to have Whithorn when a cathedral was built and a priory established the first Christian church in c700 Northumbrian established. Around this time the cult of Angles rule Galloway Scotland at Whithorn around 397 AD. St Ninian became very popular and by His followers brought new skills as well c920 Vikings settle in the 13th and 14th centuries there was Galloway as new ideas to this part of Scotland and a steady stream of pilgrims to the site 10th-11th centuries the community which grew up around of his shrine. Robert the Bruce visited Whithorn school of stone this first church was ideally placed to shortly before his death in 1329, and carving flourishes become a prosperous trading centre James III, IV and V all made their way to c1100 Galloway ruled by with social and economic links to other lords of Galloway Whithorn as pilgrims. communities around the Irish sea. 12th century Bishopric Artefacts from as far afield as Tunisia However, the priory was already in re-established; have been found on site, suggesting that decline by the time of the Reformation Cathedral built and in 1560, and pilgrimages were outlawed Premonstratensian priory Whithorn was far from isolated. in 1581. Part of the old church served established It is perhaps then not so surprising that as the parish kirk until a new parish kirk 14th and 15th centuries a school of stone carving emerged at Pilgrims flock to Ninian’s was built on the site of the old cathedral Whithorn, where skilled craft workers shrine at Whithorn in 1822. Around this time interest in flourished. The stones now on display in 1560 Reformation Whithorn’s early Christian and medieval the museum include Scotland’s earliest in Scotland; shrine history revived, and the 20th century Christian monument, the Latinus destroyed saw the return of modern day pilgrims stone, dating from the 5th century. The 1581 Pilgrimages to the site of Ninian’s church. outlawed by Reformed parliament 1822 New parish kirk built on site of cathedral HISTORIC SCOTLAND education whithorn priory and museum 3 Visiting Sites In and around Whithorn there are a number of Before the visit • How do they differ, and why? sites relating to the area’s Christian past. They include: • Read The Story of Ninian (see • Why have the stones survived for so The Whithorn Story additional resources) and discuss long? An excellent museum what a saint is. On the site of the priory, useful starting telling the story of the points are: area. Displays of artefacts • Look at maps of Scotland and and replicas. Run by the Europe, discussing why Whithorn • What materials were used to build Whithorn Trust. became a hub of trade and travel. the priory? Where did they come The Whithorn Priory • Talk about the concept of from? Museum Display of the remarkable carved stones pilgrimage, why people from many • Can you see any ways in which the from the area. Run by cultures visit holy places. priory has changed? Historic Scotland. • Discuss symbols of Christianity, in • What materials have not survived? Whithorn Priory Ruined site particular the cross. of the ancient church and Pupils can create their own evidence priory. • Discuss Latin, how it was the record by: St Ninian’s Chapel, Isle of language of the Church at the time. • Taking notes Whithorn Ruined remains Study Roman numerals. of the chapel, 5km south • Making quick drawings east of Whithorn. • Make a giant timeline with pupils, St Ninian’s Cave at Physgill, counting back the centuries with • Using the stampers in the Museum them from the present day to help 5km south of Whithorn. • Photography, video Cave by the seashore said to develop a sense of time. Key events have been used as a retreat can be marked on the timeline. On the Historic Scotland website: by the saint. 20 minute walk. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ A visit to these sites will • Both the Whithorn Story and the education_unit teachers can find help pupils to imagine Museum display objects which additional resources to help with work what life was like for those have survived for hundreds of years. on site. These include compiling an who inhabited and visited Discuss with pupils which materials Evidence Record and a My Impressions Whithorn from its earliest survive and which decay. Look at Record. Christian days. objects around them today – which Suggestions for follow-up work A visit to Whithorn supports parts will survive for longest? Get outcomes in 5-14 National pupils to think about what objects After the visit pupils can pool their Guidelines Environmental findings to create a fuller record of the Studies - People in the from the past might not have site and the lives of the people who Past. It may also support survived, the gaps in our knowledge work in the Expressive Arts of the past. lived there. A wide range of activities is and in Religious and Moral possible, for example: Education. Working on site • Artwork relating to the stones, The Curriculum for During the visit to the museum and incorporated into poster, leaflet or Excellence aspires to while looking around the priory, pupils motivate and challenge souvenir design pupils through a wide range should be encouraged to focus on • Class display of comparative 21st of learning experiences. the stones and buildings as evidence century religious symbols Site visits have a particular of the past, recording information • Carving on different types of stone, role to play in joining from these and the graphic panels as or modelling material up learning outcomes appropriate. Useful starting points in across the curriculum and the museum are: • A slide show with commentary of in supporting the four their visit capacities. • What purpose did the stones have? • Imaginative writing based on the • How did the craftsmen design and lives of people who lived at the priory make them? HISTORIC SCOTLAND education whithorn priory and museum 4 Plan of sites in Whithorn On the trail of stones and stories The Whithorn Story, the Museum and the Priory are all very close together in the centre of Whithorn. To avoid overcrowding, 1 it is suggested that all pupils watch the audio- 2 visual presentation The Whithorn Story (14 3 minutes) in the Visitor Centre of the Whithorn Story before splitting into three groups. These groups can then rotate around the three sites. Finally, if time permits, the two further afield sites may be visited. Aerial view of Whithorn, showing sites This pack provides simple background information which can be read to pupils, and points for discussion and investigation. It is organised as follows: 1. The Whithorn Story Visitor Centre 2. The Whithorn Priory Museum 3. The Priory 4. St Ninian’s Chapel, Isle of Whithorn and St Ninian’s Cave You should allow about an hour and a half for 4 your visit to the first three 4 sites, plus an additional two hours if visiting the chapel at the Isle of Map of the wider area around Whithorn Whithorn and St Ninian’s Cave. HISTORIC SCOTLAND education whithorn priory and museum 5 Tour notes: On the trail of stones Did you know... Most of the information and stories we have about Ninian and his life was written about Setting the scene. This can be read to pupils in advance, possibly at school . three hundred years after • Tradition tells us 1600 years ago, round about the year AD 397, a man called he died, by an Englishman Ninian set up a church here. It was the first Christian church in Scotland. In the called Bede in 731. beginning the church was very simple, but over the years the church grew bigger and a village and then a town grew up around the church. Later there was a place for monks, called a priory, and much later there was a grand cathedral. The first church was white, which is how the name Whit-horn gets its name. • Whithorn became a famous centre for people to learn about Christian beliefs and people travelled here from far away. These people brought new ideas and new skills, so Whithorn also became a good place to do business. It became a trading centre too, and traded with countries across the sea. • The people who lived and studied at Whithorn wanted to honour and worship God. One way of doing this was to make beautiful things for God. They made beautifullly decorated books, sewed beautiful cloths and carved amazing patterns into stones and wood. The books and cloths have rotted away, but we can still see the carved stones today. • After Ninian died, he was made a saint.