A (Scots) Royal Wedding

The Abbey Nave you see here was not around in 1070 when Margaret and Malcolm married. You can visit the Nave, what is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland, opening times can be found on HES website. 

Inside, there are markings on the floor where discovered foundations show the location of a previous building. A small chapel called Culdee Church thought to have been of a Celtic model brought to Scotland in 8th or 9th centuries through Ireland. It was in that Culdee Church in 1070 Malcolm III and Margaret are said to have married before Queen Margaret took an interest in bringing Scotland’s worship to closer resemble Rome.

The Abbey and town you are visiting today is a strong legacy for that relationship because the town grew up around the work of the Abbey and Royal connections. Margaret began a priory with a request to the Bishop of Canterbury for a monk, he sent three! Her son David I expanded the building and number of Benedictine monks to establish an Abbey, c1127. He was an amenable King of Scots 1124-1153. Benedictine monks believe in the spiritual and material well-being of a monastery by carefully integrating prayer, manual labour, and study into a well-rounded daily routine.

Weblinks:
Dunfermline Abbey and Palace

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