Fearn Abbey
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Fearn Abbey - known as "The Lamp of the North" - has its origins in one of Scotland's oldest pre-Reformation church buildings. Part of the Church of Scotland and located to the southeast of Tain, Ross-shire, it is now a parish church (united with Nigg and linked with Tarbat).
The original Fearn Abbey was established in either 1221 or 1227 by Premonstratensian canons from Whithorn Priory. Originally founded at "Old Fearn" near Edderton, it was moved by 1238 to "New Fearn" further east, perhaps to take advantage of better agricultural lands. The Abbey was rebuilt between 1338 and 1372 on the orders of William III, Earl of Ross. Following the Reformation the Abbey remained in use as a parish church, but disaster struck in 1742 when the flagstone roof collapsed during a service killing many members of the congregation. A new church was then built adjacent to the old ruined church, but it itself had fallen into a ruinous state by the early 1770s. Accordingly, part of the original ruined Abbey was rebuilt in 1772 and again became the parish church.
The current building thus substantially dates from 1772, but incorporating parts of the medieval structure. It was restored by Ian G. Lindsay & Partners in 1971.
The current minister (since 2001) is the Revd John Macgregor BD.
[edit] References
Church of Scotland Yearbook and Churches to Visit in Scotland, ISBN 0-86153-292-9.
The White Canons of St. Norbert, by Cornelius James Kirkfleet, O. Praem., 1943.
[edit] See also
- Abbot of Fearn, for a list of abbots and commendators
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
