Whithorn

Whithorn ( Taigh Mhàrtainn schott Gaelic ) is a village in the unitary authority Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland with 867 inhabitants. It should be site of the first church in Scotland from the 3rd century and is a former Royal Burgh.

Location

Whithorn is situated in the southern Machar, a peninsula, ten kilometers from Wigtown. Because of its former importance as a commercial and religious center can be found in the Machar today numerous finds from all periods, so that they are interesting to historians and archaeologists.

History

According to tradition founded a missionary named Ninia (or Nynia ) in the 4th century in Whithorn the first Christian church on Scottish soil. How much truth is there in the legend, is not known, but Whithorn as early Christian center in Scotland is well established. During excavations, the traces of settlement in the 5th century were found that also point to trade with the Mediterranean. It is known that from the 7th century pilgrims began to travel to the shrine of St. Ninian in Whithorn. In this way, Whithorn became a religious center and pilgrimage for centuries, the Scottish kings there. Excavations have shown that repeatedly churches in Whithorn were built over the centuries and are again forfeited. In the 12th century, even a large cathedral stood there, and because of the numerous ruins there are in Whithorn today numerous archaeological sites. In the Middle Ages the town and the neighboring town of Wigtown prospered because of the many pilgrims, but this changed with the Reformation.

Gallery

Priory of Whithorn

Ruins of the nave of the Priory of Whithorn

The Monreith Cross in Whithorn Museum.