Page 24 - LOTN Spring Issue 49 2022

FAITH AND CULTURE

by the appearance of a crucifix between the antlers of the
animal while the king tried to defend himself. As an act of
thanksgiving for his deliverance, he founded the Abbey of
Holy Rood, called so in the light of his recent deliverance.
Firmly dedicated to the promotion of Christianity, David
began moving north to Moray in 1136. Here he established
Urquhart Priory, as a Benedictine cell of Dunfermline
Abbey, adding two Chapels of Ease, at Bellie, on the site
of the present-day burial ground, and Chapelford, on the
Kinloss Abbey
appreciate the feeling of power, as I took in this vast
panorama of land.
The foundation stones of the gatehouse can clearly be
seen among centuries of improvements! From here the
King would direct the build of his next venture, which,
according to local legend, was revealed to him in a dream.
David had become separated from his hunting party and
found himself lost in extensive woodlands. After praying
for guidance, he was led by a dove to a shelter used by
shepherds. Here he spent the night, and in a dream, he
was instructed to establish a church to give thanks for his
rescue. The following morning he marked out the plan for
an abbey, on the dusty ground, with his sword. He then
departed from the shelter and rejoined his hunting party
at Duffus Castle.
Sueno's Stone by Scott from London, UK CC BY-SA 2.0 The abbey he drew would be Kinloss, and King David

site of St Ninian's burial ground (near Tynet Chapel). Sadly remained at Duffus Castle until he had engaged masons to
there is no visible trace of Urquhart Priory at all, but in Elgin prepare the stonework.
museum there are fragments of richly carved Romanesque Monks from Melrose Abbey were invited by David to
stonework attributed to the Priory. come and build Kinloss, and then live there as Cistercian
Traces of the foundation stones determining the positions brothers - an exemplary way of bringing local people
of the two Chapels of Ease can be found today, and the closer to the Holy See, by building a place of sanctuary
burghs of Elgin and Forres owe their foundation to David I. and worship from local stone. Kinloss was to become one
Christianity began to revolutionise the character of of the most influential monasteries in Scotland and one of
kingship in Scotland at this time. The enigmatic Pictish the largest and wealthiest Cistercian abbeys. Among later
landmark at Forres, known as Sueno's Stone, was created distinctions, it became the mother house to Deer Abbey.
with two purposes; to express thanks to God, and to act Sadly it ended up dissolved, and the stones from this holy
as a continuous reminder of the authority of the Scottish place were used to build community dwellings in Kinloss
king, as testified by his military might and the legitimation and Inverness.
provided by the Church. This warrior-penitent, protector of the poor and pious,
The scene below the cross has been interpreted as the presents a picture, perhaps modelled on the biblical King
inauguration of a king, surrounded by clerics. David, of majesty and authority - sword in one hand,
The carvings on the stone predate the reign of King orb in the other. William of Newburgh (Historia Rerum
David. Was it created as a memorial reminder - or a vision Anglicarum), makes a more explicit comparison: The Biblical
for the future! king had brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem but
David based himself at Duffus Castle, near Elgin, albeit had fallen from virtue, in a similar way to David of Scotland.
on unstable wetlands beside Spynie Loch. I could fully Both had purged their guilt through penitence.
After Viaticum, on his deathbed, David recited endless
Psalms so that his soul would be strengthened.

'The stones are slippery
but my feet step with firmness
The slippery stones bruise me
and still I walk secure' (Psalm 40)

As a Saint, David I of Scotland is named in the Calendar
of Prayer for Scotland. He is buried in Dunfermline Abbey.

Duffus Castle
Page 24