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Maybole gala week got off to a great start with an
ecumenical service at
Crossraguel Abbey
attended by members of all Maybole churches. Fr Stephen
McGrattan welcomed everyone on a day of brilliant sunshine.
The event was organised by Maybole Council of Churches and
other clergy who led parts of the service were Rev Dave
Whiteman, Rev Bertie Collie, and Rev Douglas Moore. Hymns
were introduced by representatives of the various churches.
The music was provided by Fr McGrattan on keyboard, and Rev
Whiteman and Donna McKay on guitars. Owen McDowall and Amy
Strang, who will be crowned the new King and Queen of
Carrick during the gala this coming Saturday, attended the
service and were introduced by Rev Whiteman. Maybole Council
of Churches would like to thank Historic Scotland, Maybole
Community Association, the musicians, local police and other
officials for their help and support in organising the
service.
Crossraguel Abbey is not within the boundaries of the burgh
but it has always been looked upon by the townspeople as
belonging to Maybole, even if it is in the Parish of
Kirkoswald. The meaning of the name cannot be given with any
certainty but most agree it means the Abbey of the Royal, or
Regal, Cross. The abbey was founded by Duncan, Earl of
Carrick, in 1244, in an age when many other monasteries were
being built throughout Scotland. Duncan gave land and money
to the monks of Paisley Abbey and asked them to build the
monastery but they only erected a small chapel in the first
instance and held on to quite a considerable balance of
cash, which rather displeased the Earl. He went to law on
the matter and the Bishop of Glasgow, who was appointed
arbiter, found in his favour and ordained that the Paisley
monks should build a proper monastery and that monks should
be sent from Paisley Abbey to run it. |
