The Magnificent Melrose Abbey

         

Melrose Abbey

Interior part of the Presbytery

 





 

 This historic abbey well-known for its architectural beauty and graceful sculptures is also one of the richest abbeys having nearly 22000 acres of land and trading Melrose wool manufactured here, to neighboring states. It is located just 35 miles away from Edinburgh. Located in an area of 40 acres this abbey built in Gothic style was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks (a sect of St.Benedict)  on the request of king David I of Scotland. It took nearly ten years to build this abbey in the shape of St.John’s Cross. Nearly one hundred thirty monks used to stay here and spent their time not only in spiritual pursuits but also in cultivating crops and in manufacturing of wool which fetched them adequate funds to carry out their service activities. Most parts of the abbey are in ruined condition. Still one can appreciate the lavishly decorated masonry work by viewing the figures of Mary with Baby Christ, of Christian Saints, angels, gargoyles, plants and stone windows fringed with delicate creepers and designs.This abbey was dedicated to St.Mary on July 28th 1146. The south east entrance and the chapter house are still in good condition.

South Transept Window

     

Abbey seen from south

  In this abbey the graves of many Scottish kings, nobles and famous persons are seen. The heart of the brave Scottish hero, Robert Bruce, encased in a leaden casket was buried here on the abbey’s grounds in 1812. Previously it was supposed to have been buried in the chapter house. The stone coffin of Michael Scott, the magic wizard and philosopher of thirteenth century was found in the south chancel. The tombs of illustrious persons like Alexander II , King of Scots (1198-1249), William Douglas, James Douglas( Both Earls of Douglas),  Sir David Brewster (The inventor of kaleidoscope) and William de Bondington (Bishop of Glasgow)  are found in this abbey.

Tomb of Michael Scott, the wizard

Carvings on the pillar

Virgin with her child

A Statue on the wall

 

South Entrance

Pig playing bagpipe

 In 1322 the abbey was destroyed by Edward II, king of England. The Scottish king Robert Bruce re-built the abbey. In 1385 the abbey was burnt and ravaged by Richard II when he forced the army of the Scottish king Robert II back to Edinburgh. The abbey was re-built in different phases over a period of the next one hundred years. In 1544 the forces of Henry VIII completely damaged the abbey. Henry VIII  resorted to this vandalous act to force the Scots to allow the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, marry his son. After this event the abbey gradually lost its status as a working monastery. The last Abbot was James Stuart, son of James V, who died in 1559. In 1590 the last monk of the abbey died. The last assault on this abbey was by Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War in 1610.  A portion of the church was used as parish for the surrounding town till 1810, when a new church was erected in the town.

  This abbey was very spacious (258 feet in length and 137.5 feet in breadth) with the principal tower reaching 84 feet in height. It has nearly 50 windows, four doors, fifty five niches and fifty buttresses with beautiful carvings, statues and figures. The statues of saints with labeled scrolls in the niches were completely destroyed by the English army during their attacks. Damage was caused by the English forces in 1322 and in 1384. Richard II gave a grant in 1389 to compensate for the losses. During Reformation most of the land grants and possessions of the abbey were seized by the Crown and nobles. The famous author, Sir William Scott described the serene and solemn picturesque sight of this abbey in the second canto of his famous poem “The Lay of the Last Minstrels.” In U.S. a Presbyterian Congregation was built in the pattern of this abbey in Michigan on Bloomfield Hills.


     

The spot where the heart of Robert Bruce was buried

 This abbey is one of the most beautiful constructions that suffered destruction due to political and religious rivalries between Scotland and England. As one leaves the abbey with a heavy heart, one cannot but remember the Scottish inscription “Be halde to ye hende” (Keep in mind the end of your salvation) of John Morow, the Master-Mason, seen on one of the staircases.

“How true, yet so simple embodying a profound moral to all mankind!”

                         

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