Saddell Abbey facts for kids
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 12th century |
| Disestablished | 1507 |
| Mother house | Mellifont Abbey |
| Diocese | Diocese of Argyll |
| Controlled churches | Inchmarnock; Kilchattan; Kilkivan |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Somerled, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne |
Saddell Abbey was an old Cistercian monastery located in Argyll, Scotland. A monastery is a special place where monks live and pray. This abbey was started many centuries ago in the 12th century.
Contents
The Story of Saddell Abbey
Who Started Saddell Abbey?
A powerful Scottish leader named Somerled began building Saddell Abbey. He was known as the Lord of Argyll, Kintyre, and Lorne. Somerled also founded a famous Scottish family called Clan Donald.
Sadly, Somerled died in 1164 before the abbey was finished. His son, Ragnall, completed the building in 1207. Monks from Mellifont Abbey in Ireland then came to live there.
What Happened to the Abbey?
Somerled's family, the MacDonalds, continued to support Saddell Abbey. They were also known as the Lords of the Isles. They were important patrons, meaning they helped fund and protect the abbey.
Life for the monks at Saddell Abbey changed when James IV of Scotland took away the title of Lord of the Isles. This meant the abbey lost its main supporters.
There was an idea to move the main church for the Diocese of Argyll from Lismore to Saddell. This was because the church in Lismore was in ruins. However, this plan never happened. Even so, some Bishops of Argyll sometimes used the title "Commendator of Saddell." This showed their connection to the abbey.
Saddell Abbey Today
Today, the remains of Saddell Abbey are a special historical site. It is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. This means it's an important place from the past that needs to be preserved. You can still visit the ruins and imagine what life was like for the monks centuries ago.
