Coldingham Priory

📍 Scottish Borders, Scotland

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About

Coldingham Priory was a house of Benedictine monks. It lies on the south-east coast of Scotland, in the village of Coldingham, Berwickshire. Coldingham Priory was founded in the reign of David I of Scotland, although his older brother and predecessor King Edgar of Scotland had granted the land of Coldingham to the Church of Durham in 1098, and a church was constructed by him and presented in 1100. The first prior of Coldingham is on record by the year 1147, although it is likely that the foundation was much earlier. The earlier monastery at Coldingham was founded by St Æbbe sometime c. AD 640. Although the monastery was largely destroyed by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, some remains of the priory exist, the choir of which forms the present parish church of Coldingham and is serviced by the Church of Scotland.

Founded in 1098 by Edgar, King of Scotland, on the site of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon monastery. The priory was a dependency of Durham Cathedral and frequently fought over during Anglo-Scottish wars. Partly demolished at the Reformation but the choir was restored and remains in use as the parish church. Features fine Gothic arcading. Near the coastal village of Coldingham with its sandy bay.