Lesmahagow Priory facts for kids
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Priory of the Virgin Mary of Lesmahagow |
| Order | Tironensian |
| Established | 1144 |
| Disestablished | c. 1607 |
| Mother house | Kelso Abbey (dependency) |
| Dedicated to | Virgin Mary & Machutas |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | David I, King of the Scots, and John, Bishop of Glasgow |
| Site | |
| Location | Lesmahagow (now South Lanarkshire, Scotland) |
Lesmahagow Priory was an important religious building in Scotland a long time ago. It was a type of monastery called a priory. It was located in the small town of Lesmahagow, which is now in South Lanarkshire.
A priory was a place where monks lived and prayed. The monks at Lesmahagow Priory belonged to a group called the Tironensian monks. This priory was connected to a larger monastery called Kelso Abbey.
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What Was Lesmahagow Priory?
Lesmahagow Priory was a religious community from the Middle Ages. It was a place where monks lived, worked, and prayed together. They followed a special set of rules for their daily lives.
The priory was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and a saint named Machutas. It played a big role in the local area for many centuries.
How the Priory Started
Lesmahagow Priory was founded in the year 1144. It was started thanks to two important people. One was King David I of Scotland. The other was John, who was the Bishop of Glasgow.
They gave land in Lesmahagow to Kelso Abbey. Kelso Abbey then used this land to build the new priory. Lesmahagow Priory was always a "dependency" of Kelso Abbey. This means it was like a smaller branch of the main abbey.
What Happened to the Priory?
Over time, things changed for Lesmahagow Priory. In the 1500s, its control slowly became "secularized." This means it became less about religion and more about everyday, non-religious matters.
Around 1607, the priory, along with Kelso Abbey, was turned into a "secular lordship." This meant it was no longer run by monks. Instead, it was controlled by a powerful person, Robert Ker of Cesford. He later became the Earl of Roxburghe.
In 1623, the priory's control passed to James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton. This marked the end of its time as a working monastery.
Lesmahagow's Churches Today
Even though the priory itself is gone, its history lives on in Lesmahagow. Two churches in the town today have links to the old priory.
First, there is Lesmahagow Old Parish Church. This church belongs to the Church of Scotland. It stands on the very same spot where the priory church used to be. The building you see today was built in 1804.
Second, there is Abbeygreen Church. This church is part of the Free Church of Scotland. It is located across from Glebe Park in Lesmahagow. This church was formed in 1843 and its building opened in 1844.
