Fearn Abbey
Ross
Founded c. 1225 as a daughter of Whithorn. (RICHARDSON AND WOOD)
Fearn Abbey
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Abbey of New Fearn Monastery information
Order Premonstratensian
Established 1238
Disestablished 1609
Mother house Whithorn Priory
Diocese Diocese of Ross
Controlled churches Kilchrist, Tarbat People
Founder(s) Fearchar, Earl of Ross
Important associated figures Finlay McFaed
Tomb of abbot Fionnlagh II (Finlay MacFaed).
Fearn Abbey – known as "The Lamp of the North" – has its origins in one of Scotland's oldest pre-Reformation church buildings. Part of the Church of Scotland and located to the southeast of Tain, Ross-shire, it continues as an active parish church (united with Nigg and linked with Tarbat).
The original Fearn Abbey was established in either 1221 or 1227 *by Premonstratensian canons from Whithorn Priory (*by Ferquhard McTaggart, Earl of Ross around 1227 (C&M)) Originally founded at "Old Fearn" near Edderton, it was moved by 1238 to "New Fearn" further east, perhaps to take advantage of better agricultural lands. The Abbey was rebuilt between 1338 and 1372 on the orders ofWilliam III, Earl of Ross. Following the Reformation the Abbey remained in use as a parish church, but disaster struck in 1742 when the flagstone roof collapsed during a service killing many members of the congregation. A new church was then built adjacent to the old ruined church, but it itself had fallen into a ruinous state by the early 1770s. Accordingly, part of the original ruined Abbey was rebuilt in 1772 and again became the parish church as part of the Established Church of Scotland.