Fearn

Title

Fearn

Also Known As

Farne, Fearne, Ferina, Fermia, Fernia, Feryn, Nova Fernia, Nova Scrinia, Noveferne, Novefferne, West Fern

Dates

Founded 1220-1227; dissolved 1597

Dedication

Ninian

Affiliation

Whithorn

Medieval Diocese

Ross

Circary

Scotland

History

Fearn Abbey was established in the early 13th century by a group of brothers from Whithorn Priory. The community moved ten miles to the southeast in 1238 in search of a more favourable location. Fearn Abbey was particularly patronised by the earls of Ross. The monastic complex was enlarged in the mid-15th century.

Following the Reformation, Fearn's church remained in use as a Church of Scotland parish church. It was substantially rebuilt in the 1770s, with further restoration work carried out 2002-03. As of 2023, it is no longer in use as a church.

Heads of Community

Abbots

Malcolm I of Galloway, ca. 1220-1236
Malcolm II of Nigg, ca. 1236-1246
Macbeth (or Machabaeus) Mackersin, 1252-1272
Colin, ca. 1274-ca. 1298
Martin, ca. 1299-1311
John, ca. 1311-1320
Marcus Ross, 1321-ca. 1350
Donald I of Peebles, 1350-1368
Donald II Pupill, 1368-1383
Adam Monilaw, 1383-1407
Thomas Kethirnathie (or Catanach), 1407
Finlay I McFaed (or Ferrier), 1408-1436
Finlay II McFaed, 1436-1485
John McFaed (or Fearn), 1485
Thomas I McCulloch, 1486-1516
Patrick Hamilton, ?-1527
Donald III Denoon, 1527-1540
Robert Cairncross, 1540-1545
David Panitar, 1545-ca. 1546
James Cairncross, ca. 1546-aft. 1550
Nicholas Ross, aft. 1550-1569
Thomas II Ross, 1569-1595
Walter Ross, 1595-1597

Status

Abbey

Archival Sources

Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Manuscript Collections

Acc.11606 (20th c.; research notes)

Adv.MS.30.5.23 (10 of 14), nos. 128a-129c (19th c.; drawings)

Adv.MS.30.5.23 (11 of 14), nos. 130a-132 (19th c.; plans)

Dep.314/18 (15th-17th c.; Obit calendar)

MS 712, fols. 28-30 (19th/20th c.; drawings)

Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

La.III.666 (n.d., "A Briefe of the Chronicle of the Earles of Ross, etc., with an historical account of the Abbots of Fearn in Ross-shire, copied from an old MS.")

Laing Collection, GB 237 Coll-1/5/1799 (1577)

Laing Collection, GB 237 Coll-1/5/2760 (1572)

Laing Collection, GB 237 Coll-1/5/2761 (1576)

Bibliography

Adam, Robin J., ed. The Calendar of Fearn: Text and Additions, 1471-1667. Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1991. https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/1271/7983/127179839.23.pdf.

Baillie, W.R. Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross: Including Notices of the Abbots of Fearn, and of the Family of Ross of Balnagown. Edinburgh: T. Constable, 1850. https://books.google.com/books/about/Ane_breve_cronicle_of_the_Earlis_of_Ross.html?id=D9PhngEACAAJ.

Dilworth, G. Mark. “Fearn Abbey as a Monastic Institution.” The Innes Review 51, no. 1 (2000): 40–54.

Scots Magazine. “Fearn Abbey, Ross-Shire.” 1899. https://books.google.com/books?id=FGoUAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA98.

Scott, A.B. “The Celtic Monastery and Roman Abbey of Fearn.” Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness 28 (1918): 391–410. https://archive.org/details/transactions28gaeluoft/page/390/mode/2up.

Slade, Harry Gordon. The Collegiate Kirk of St Duthac of Tain and the Abbey of Fearn. Tain: Tain & District Museum Trust, 2000.

Image Credit

Exterior of Fearn Abbey, 2006. Wikimedia.

Files

Collection

Scotland

Citation

“Fearn,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/61.

Geolocation