Abbey St Bathans, Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders, is dedicated to the second abbot of Iona, Baithéne mac Brénaind (Saint Baithen). The place name has been mooted as evidence of a long-standing route between Iona and the later foundation at Lindisfarne, a sort of pilgrim pitstop between the two monastic powerhouses.
St Baithen was an Irish monk, specially selected by Saint Columba as one of the band of missionaries who set sail for what is now Scotland in 563. Born in 536, he was a disciple of Columba, and was appointed Abbot of Tiree, a monastery founded by Saint Comgall of Bangor. Recording the death of St Columba, Saint Adomnán, tells us his last words were: "I must stop here, let Baithéne write what follows".
The last leg of Aidan’s journey from Iona would have taken monks through the bleak Lammermuir hills – site of Cuthbert’s famous vision of Aidan’s soul being taken up to heaven – and through this very parish. It lies in a wooded valley of the Whiteadder Water at the southern end of one of the few roads that cross the long ridge of hills.
Abbey St Bathans was once home to a priory of Cistercian Nuns. Later, it was used as a retreat by the sisters who formed the community at Haddington and at Nunraw, under the patronage of Ada, Countess of Dunbar and her husband Patrick, Earl of Dunbar.
Its original location is difficult to pinpoint. However, there is a stone on one side of the glen known as the Abbey Stone.
Images: Phil Cope.
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