Blackfriars, Perth
Encyclopedia
The Church of the Friars Preachers of Blessed Virgin and Saint Dominic at Perth, commonly called "Blackfriars", was a mendicant
friary of the Dominican Order
founded in the 13th century at Perth
, Scotland
. The Dominicans ("Black friars") were said by Walter Bower
to have been brought to Scotland in 1230 by King Alexander II of Scotland
, while John Spottiswood held that they were brought to Scotland by William de Malveisin
, Bishop of St Andrews. Later tradition held that the Perth Dominican friary was founded by King Alexander II.
The Pontifical Offices of St Andrews listed the friary as having being dedicated on May 13, 1240. The earliest surviving grant to the church dates to October 31, 1241. Perth was perhaps the most important royal centre in the Kingdom of Scotland
until the reign of King James III of Scotland
, and the Dominican friary was frequently used for national church councils and as a residence for the King of the Scots. It was at Blackfriars church that King James I of Scotland
was murdered on the night of February 20, 1437, by followers of the Earl of Atholl
.
With the growth of Protestantism
in Scotland, friaries were targeted by reformers more than any other church institutions, partly because their vitality posed the biggest threat. A Perth mob attacked the church on May 14, 1543, and on May 11, 1559, it and the other religious houses of the city were attacked, looted and put out of order. King James VI of Scotland granted all the property of the church to the burgh of Perth on August 9, 1569, nine years after the Reformation Parliament
of 1560.
Mendicant
The term mendicant refers to begging or relying on charitable donations, and is most widely used for religious followers or ascetics who rely exclusively on charity to survive....
friary of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
founded in the 13th century at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The Dominicans ("Black friars") were said by Walter Bower
Walter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
to have been brought to Scotland in 1230 by King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
, while John Spottiswood held that they were brought to Scotland by William de Malveisin
William de Malveisin
Guillaume or William de Malveisin was Chancellor of Scotland, Bishop of Glasgow and then Bishop of St. Andrews .William Malveisin was probably born in France...
, Bishop of St Andrews. Later tradition held that the Perth Dominican friary was founded by King Alexander II.
The Pontifical Offices of St Andrews listed the friary as having being dedicated on May 13, 1240. The earliest surviving grant to the church dates to October 31, 1241. Perth was perhaps the most important royal centre in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
until the reign of King James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
, and the Dominican friary was frequently used for national church councils and as a residence for the King of the Scots. It was at Blackfriars church that King James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
was murdered on the night of February 20, 1437, by followers of the Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
.
With the growth of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in Scotland, friaries were targeted by reformers more than any other church institutions, partly because their vitality posed the biggest threat. A Perth mob attacked the church on May 14, 1543, and on May 11, 1559, it and the other religious houses of the city were attacked, looted and put out of order. King James VI of Scotland granted all the property of the church to the burgh of Perth on August 9, 1569, nine years after the Reformation Parliament
Scottish Reformation Parliament
The Scottish Reformation Parliament is the name given to the Scottish Parliament commencing in 1560 that passed the major pieces of legislation leading to the Scottish Reformation, most importantly Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1560; and Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560 .right|thumb|[[John...
of 1560.