Candida Casa facts for kids

Candida Casa was the name of an important early church. It was built by St Ninian in the 400s AD. This church was located in Whithorn, a place in southern Scotland. The name "Candida Casa" comes from Latin words. Casa means "hut" and candidus or candida means "shining white." This name might have come from the white stone used to build the church. Or it could have been because the church was painted with whitewash.

The First Christian Building in Scotland

Whithorn was a busy trading center long ago. It became a key place for Christianity in Scotland. This happened about 150 years before the famous island of Iona. Around the year 397, St Ninian started the first Christian mission here. This was a time when Roman soldiers were still in Britain.

Building the White House

St. Ninian built a small stone church. It was called the "Candida Casa," or "White House." This was Scotland's very first Christian building. It was also the first Christian settlement north of Hadrian's Wall. The church quickly grew in importance. It became a cathedral and a monastery. People continued to visit it for pilgrimage, even when the area was politically unstable.

Training Monks and Spreading Faith

Many monks were trained at Whithorn. These monks later became famous missionaries. They traveled to places like Ireland and Alba (an old name for Scotland). Some even went as far north as the Orkney and Shetland islands.

Saint Éogan's Story

One famous monk was Saint Éogan. He was from Ireland and lived in the 500s. Pirates captured him and took him to Britain. After he became free, he went to study at Candida Casa. Some historians believe Candida Casa was a major school for monks. It helped spread monasticism in Ireland.

Trade and New Ideas

Pottery and glass from the Mediterranean Sea and Western France reached this early Christian monastery. Many monks might have come from France. They brought new skills and crafts with them. This shows that Whithorn was connected to other parts of the world.

Changes in Control

Over time, Whithorn and the land around it changed hands. First, it was controlled by the Brythonic people. Then, the Northumbrians took control. An Anglo-Saxon Diocese of Whithorn was set up around 730 AD. Later, the area was ruled by the Norse people. By 1100, it returned to Celtic control. At this time, it became part of the Kingdom of Scots.

New Buildings and Later Years

The bishopric of Whithorn was started again in 1128. A new cathedral and a priory (a type of monastery) were built on the same site.

The site fell into disrepair during the Scottish Reformation and after. Today, "Whithorn Priory and Museum" includes the old ruins. Historic Environment Scotland takes care of them. Next to the ruins is "St Ninians's Priory." This church was built in 1822. It is still used by the Whithorn Church of Scotland parish.