The ruins of the Abbey of Inchaffray, the ancient Insula Missarum, stand
on a wooded mound not far from Madderty Station, about six miles east of
Crieff.
The abbey was founded by Gilbert, Earl of Stratherne, who succeeded his
father, Earl Ferteth, in 1171, and died in 1223, and his first wife,
Matildis, the daughter of William de Aubegni. Their eldest son,
Gilchrist, was buried in 1198 at Inchaffray, which had been founded
before that date. In 1200, when the great charter of the abbey was
granted, the Earl and Countess endowed it with various churches,
including St. Mechesseok of Ochterardouer and St. Beanus of Kynkell
(illustrated in this volume). They declared their affection for
Inchaffray, affirming “so much do we love it that we have chosen a place
of sepulture in it for us and our successors, and have already buried
there our eldest born.”
The abbey was dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the
Evangelist, and was a house of the canons regular of the order of St.
Augustine. Although not reckoned as one of the great monasteries of
[Illustration: FIG. 1464.--Inchaffray Abbey. Plan.]
Scotland, it was “endowed with many privileges and immunities by David
and Alexander, Kings of Scotland,” but its principal benefactors were
the family of the Earls of Stratherne, Earl Robert, the son (1223 and
1231) of Gilbert being particularly liberal.
Only one of the abbots, Abbot Maurice, has obtained any popular
recognition in history. He it was who blessed the Scottish army at
Bannockburn in 1314. Five years afterwards he was promoted to the See of
Dunblane, within which diocese Inchaffray is situated.
The first head of the house was Malis, a religious hermit, in whose
piety and discretion Earl Gilbert and Matildis had full confidence. At
the Reformation Inchaffray suffered the usual fate. Alexander Gordon,
brother of George, fourth Earl of Huntly, was made commendator in 1553.
Five years later he was promoted to the See of Galloway, and shortly
afterwards he was accused, by the General Assembly, of neglecting his
duties, and in particular, that he had resigned Inchaffray in favour of
a young child, and set divers lands in feu in prejudice of the kirk. The
young child was James Drummond, son of David, Lord Drummond of
Innerpeffray, in whose favour the abbey was erected into a temporal
lordship.
The ruins of the abbey are situated on ground which rises slightly above
the surface of the valley. This valley in ancient times was a great
[Illustration: FIG. 1465.--Inchaffray Abbey. Exterior of North Gable.]
marsh extending for many miles, and it was from this feature of its
situation that the abbey received the name by which it was very
generally known throughout the middle ages, of “Insula Missarum,” or
Isle of Masses. As early as the year 1218 the monks had reclaimed a
portion of this marsh, and they doubtless continued their labours; but
it was not till 1696 that an Act was obtained, under the authority of
Parliament, for dealing effectively with it.[206]
[Illustration: FIG. 1466.--Inchaffray Abbey.