# Botel Abbey

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The **Abbey of Saints Alban and Æthelwold**, also known as **Botel Abbey**, is an Orthodox Monastery according to the [Western Rite](/source/Western_Rite_Orthodoxy) and [Benedictine](/source/Benedictines) monastic traditions located in the grounds of [Buittle Castle](/source/Buittle_Castle), [Dumfries and Galloway](/source/Dumfries_and_Galloway), [Scotland](/source/Scotland).

## History

The site of the historical castle was acquired by James Cavendish, a member of the [Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles](/source/Autonomous_Orthodox_Metropolia_of_North_and_South_America_and_the_British_Isles), after the previous owner was arrested for tax fraud in 2017.[1][2]

On September 29, 2019, Cavendish, at that time he was a [Hierodeacon](/source/Hierodeacon), was elevated to the rank of [Abbot](/source/Abbot) and Bishop by Metropolitan John LoBue.[3]

The following day, he was consecrated with the title: "His Excellency, the Right Reverend Bishop James, Vicar-Bishop of Whithorn, Dumfries, and the Marches."[4]

On February 10, 2025, Botel Abbey and the rest of the communities under Bishop Cavendish were received into the [Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland](/source/Archdiocese_of_the_British_Isles_and_Ireland). The following day, Cavendish was ordained to the diaconate.[5]

## Monastic life

### Monastic Brotherhood of Saints Alban and Æthelwold

The Monastic Brotherhood of Saints Alban and Æthelwold is a community of the Orthodox monks following the [Western Rite](/source/Western_Rite_Orthodoxy) traditions and the [Rule of Saint Benedict](/source/Rule_of_Saint_Benedict), according to the abbey's website, the monks live in a hermitage style cells on the grouds of Buittle Castle.[6]

### St. Alban's Press

St. Alban's Press is a publishing imprint for general liturgical and devotional material, many of the publications of which are the work of the monastic life of the abbey.[7]

### The Dowry Workshop

The Dowry Workshop is an ecclesiastical tailor run by the monks, which specialises in Gothic vestments, and also sells liturgical incense. Since 2021, the Dowry Workshop has held a Warrant of Appointment from the Royal House of [Habsburg](/source/House_of_Habsburg).[8]

### Orthodox Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Scotland

In the undercroft of the castle is the national Orthodox Shrine of [Our Lady of Walsingham](/source/Our_Lady_of_Walsingham) in Scotland. The [Divine Office](/source/Divine_Office) is celebrated there by the monks of the abbey.[6]

## References

1. Horne, Marc (2023-04-29). ["The mystery surrounding Dalbeattie’s ‘mad monk’"](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/the-mystery-surrounding-dalbeatties-mad-monk-7ln39ww20). *www.thetimes.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. McNair, Andrew (2017-06-15). ["Dumfries and Galloway man jailed for £80,000 fraud while owner of 500-year-old Buittle Tower"](http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/dumfries-galloway-man-jailed-80000-10628196). *Daily Record*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["Consecration of Hieromonk James as Abbot – The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles"](https://orthodoxmetropolia.org/2019/10/07/consecration-of-hieromonk-james-as-abbot/). 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["Consecration of Bishop James of Whithorn, Dumfries, and the Marches – The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles"](https://orthodoxmetropolia.org/2019/10/07/consecration-of-bishop-james-of-whithorn/). 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["Bulk of Old Calendarist diocese joins Antiochian Church in British Isles"](https://orthochristian.com/167575.html). *OrthoChristian.Com*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["Botel Abbey & Shrine"](https://www.metbritain.org/nationalshrineolw). *MeT Britain*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["St. Alban's Press"](https://www.dowryworkshop.co.uk/stalbanspress). *The Dowry Workshop*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. ["The Imperial Warrant"](https://www.dowryworkshop.co.uk/about-5). *The Dowry Workshop*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Botel Abbey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botel_Abbey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botel_Abbey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.