# Kinloss Abbey > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kinloss_Abbey > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kinloss_Abbey.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinloss_Abbey > Source revision: 1294297071 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ruined abbey in Kinloss, Moray, Scotland Kinloss Abbey Ruins in 1984 Interactive map of Kinloss Abbey Monastery information Order Cistercian Established 1151 Disestablished 1601 Mother house Melrose Abbey Diocese Diocese of Moray Controlled churches Avoch; Ellon People Founder David I of Scotland Important associated figures Radulf, Robert Reid **Kinloss Abbey** is a [Cistercian](/source/Cistercians) [abbey](/source/Abbey) at [Kinloss](/source/Kinloss%2C_Scotland) in the county of [Moray](/source/Moray), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). The abbey was founded in 1150 by King [David I](/source/David_I_of_Scotland) "in order to extend the benefits of civilisation to the remoter regions under his sway."[1] The legend of its founding is similar to that of the founding of [Holyrood Abbey](/source/Holyrood_Abbey). According to the legend, while hunting, the king lost his way in the woods but was rescued by a deer, which guided him to a clearing. He was later persuaded by a vision, which he regarded to have been sent by the [Virgin Mary](/source/Mary%2C_mother_of_Jesus), to build a church there in her honor.[2] It was first colonised by monks from [Melrose Abbey](/source/Melrose_Abbey). It received its [Papal Bull](/source/Papal_bull) from [Pope Alexander III](/source/Pope_Alexander_III) in 1174, and later came under the protection of the [Bishop of Moray](/source/Bishop_of_Moray) in 1187. The abbey went on to become one of the largest and wealthiest religious houses in Scotland, receiving the valuable [salmon](/source/Salmon) fishing rights on the [River Findhorn](/source/River_Findhorn) from [Robert the Bruce](/source/Robert_I_of_Scotland) in 1312, subsequently renewed by [James I](/source/James_I_of_Scotland) and [James IV](/source/James_IV_of_Scotland). During its history the abbey has received many royal visitors, including [Edward I](/source/Edward_I_of_England) in 1303, [Edward III](/source/Edward_III_of_England) in 1336 and [Mary, Queen of Scots](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots), in 1562. The most renowned of the 24 [abbots](/source/Abbot) the monastery had was [Robert Reid](/source/Robert_Reid_(bishop)). Reid introduced organised education, erecting a new fireproof [library](/source/Library) enriched with volumes belonging to him personally and, in 1537, a new abbot's house.[3] He became Bishop of Orkney in 1541. In his will of 1583, he bequeathed "8000 [merks](/source/Merk_(coin)) 'for to big [build] ane college' in the [Burgh](/source/Burgh) of [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh)."[4] While a student in [Paris](/source/Paris), Robert Reid formed a friendship with John Ferrerius, a native of the [Piedmont](/source/Piedmont) region in [Italy](/source/Italy), and in 1528 invited him to Kinloss to serve as an educator. While there, Ferrerius wrote a long account of the various abbots of Kinloss and their works, the majority of which have not survived.[5] The abbey and its lands were part of the [Barony of Muirton](/source/Barony_of_Muirton) and the [Lordship of Kinloss](/source/Lord_Kinloss) at various times. In 1553, Bishop Reid was succeeded as abbot by his nephew, Walter Reid, whose abbacy coincided with the upheavals of the [Protestant Reformation in Scotland](/source/Scottish_Reformation). During that time, a great part of the lands of Kinloss were alienated to the Crown. [Edward Bruce](/source/Edward_Bruce%2C_1st_Lord_Kinloss) commendator after the Reformation, was granted some of the lands and fishing areas of Kinloss, raising him to the temporal lordship, Lord Bruce of Kinloss. In 1645 the remaining buildings of the abbey were conveyed to [Alexander Brodie of Lethen](/source/Clan_Brodie), who sold the materials for the construction of [Oliver Cromwell](/source/Oliver_Cromwell)’s [citadel](/source/Citadel) at [Inverness](/source/Inverness).[6] Few of the monastic buildings remain standing today. The remains of the abbey are now situated within a [graveyard](/source/Cemetery) owned by the local authority, and are therefore accessible at all times. They are designated a [scheduled monument](/source/Scheduled_monument).[7] ## See also - [Abbot of Kinloss](/source/Abbot_of_Kinloss), for a list of abbots and commendators - [List of listed buildings in Kinloss](/source/List_of_listed_buildings_in_Kinloss) - [Scheduled monuments in Moray](/source/Scheduled_monuments_in_Moray) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1846). [*The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland from the Earliest Times to the Seventeenth Century*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BqQaAAAAYAAJ&dq=kinloss+abbey&pg=PA416). Edinburgh: David Douglas. p. 416. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-873644-00-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-873644-00-3). Retrieved 29 July 2024. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** MacGibbon. [*Ecclesiastical Architecture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BqQaAAAAYAAJ&q=reid). D. Douglas. p. 416. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-873644-00-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-873644-00-3). Retrieved 29 July 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** MacGibbon. [*Ecclesiastical Architecture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BqQaAAAAYAAJ&q=reid). D. Douglas. p. 417. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-873644-00-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-873644-00-3). Retrieved 29 July 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [""Will of Bishop Robert Reid, 1557""](https://ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk/index.php/Will_of_Bishop_Robert_Reid,_1557). *Our History*. University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 29 July 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** MacGibbon. [*Ecclesiastical Architecture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BqQaAAAAYAAJ&q=reid). D. Douglas. p. 416. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-873644-00-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-873644-00-3). Retrieved 29 July 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** MacGibbon. [*Ecclesiastical Architecture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BqQaAAAAYAAJ&q=reid). D. Douglas. p. 417. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-873644-00-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-873644-00-3). Retrieved 29 July 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Historic Environment Scotland](/source/Historic_Environment_Scotland). ["Kinloss Abbey (SM1227)"](https://www.trove.scot/designation/SM1227). Retrieved 23 February 2019. ## External links - [Kinloss Abbey Trust](http://www.kinlossabbey.org/) - ["Kinloss"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08659a.htm). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. v t e Cistercian monasteries in Scotland Melrose filiation (from Rievaulx) Melrose Abbey (1136) Newbattle Abbey (1140) Holmcultram Abbey* (1150) Kinloss Abbey (1150) Coupar Angus Abbey (1164) Balmerino Abbey (1227) Dundrennan filiation (from Rievaulx) Dundrennan Abbey (1142) Glenluce Abbey (1192) Sweetheart Abbey (1273) Mellifont filiation** (from Cîteaux) ? Soulseat Abbey*** (1148) Saddell Abbey (1207) Kinloss filiation**** (from Rievaulx) Culross Abbey (1217) Deer Abbey (1219) Latter day foundations Nunraw (1946) * Now in England, but at the time of its foundation, part of the Scottish kingdom of David I. ** Filiation from Mellifont Abbey in Ireland, founded 1142. *** If this existed, it was shortly afterwards replaced by a Premonstratensian establishment. **** In the line of filiation from Melrose (above). Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Other Yale LUX [57°38′02″N 3°33′59″W / 57.6338°N 3.5665°W / 57.6338; -3.5665](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kinloss_Abbey¶ms=57.6338_N_3.5665_W_region:GB_type:landmark_source:dewiki) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kinloss Abbey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinloss_Abbey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinloss_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.