Paisley Abbey

Walter FitzAlan, a Breton knight in the service of King David I, had a vision. He would create a magnificent abbey. This would be a place of worship and learning. Now, centuries later, here we stand before Paisley Abbey. Its story unfolds before us, etched in stone and stained glass. Paisley Abbey’s foundation dates back to 1163. FitzAlan, the first High Steward of Scotland, chose this site, once home to an old Celtic church founded by St. Mirin. Thirteen Cluniac monks journeyed from Much Wenlock in Shropshire to establish the priory. It flourished under royal patronage, becoming an Abbey in 1245. The Abbey’s reach extended throughout Europe with extensive trade. It also fostered scholarship. It’s even believed that William Wallace, the Scottish hero, received his education within these very walls. Tragedy struck in 1307 when the Abbey was ravaged by fire. Rebuilt during the 14th century, it became intertwined with the royal House of Stewart. In 1315, Walter Stewart, the sixth High Steward, married Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce. A year later, Marjory died at the Abbey following a riding accident. Her son, saved by an early form of Cesarean section, became Robert II, the first Stewart monarch. Paisley Abbey thus became known as the “cradle of the Royal House of Stewart”. Disaster struck again in the 16th century. The central tower collapsed, destroying the transepts and choir. The Scottish Reformation led to the monastery’s dissolution. The nave, walled off, became the parish church. The remaining sections lay in ruins until their restoration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Paisley Abbey stands as a testament to its enduring history. It is a place where faith, royalty, and tragedy have converged over centuries. It is the final resting place of six High Stewards, Marjory Bruce, and Robert III.