Greyfriars, Elgin
Thirteen years before Columbus discovered America in 1492, a group of Franciscan friars erected a stone friary in the north of Scotland, just east of the Highlands in the city of Elgin. There they ministered to lepers, ran a thriving hospital and soup kitchen and sang the praises of God together. Before the end of the sixteenth century, however, the friary had been reduced to ruins by the effects of the Reformation in Scotland and all seemed at an end for Greyfriars Convent. In the mid-nineteenth century came the Catholic Restoration in Scotland and with it a group of Irish Sisters of Mercy who beheld the ruins of Greyfriars and dreamed of a new convent in its place. Their prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour were answered in the person of Lord John Crichton-Stuart, a Scottish Catholic interested in restoring Scottish Catholicism, especially through its liturgy and architecture. He rebuilt Greyfriars convent according to the pattern of its original foundations and it served the Sisters of Mercy and their fruitful apostolate of education until 2010. At that time, the sisters had to withdraw from Greyfriars owing to decreasing numbers, leaving the property to the Diocese of Aberdeen.
Once again, the future of Greyfriars was uncertain. Upon his installation to the bishopric of Aberdeen in 2011, the Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert, OSB began to consider the possibilities for the future of the beautiful centuries-old building. He invited the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia of Nashville, Tennessee, to consider sending sisters to serve in Scotland, and to bring Greyfriars Convent to life once more. The Congregation accepted the invitation and on 20 August 2013 Greyfriars Convent began a new chapter in its history with the arrival of four sisters from the United States. When the convent was restored in 1898, two lovely paintings had been installed on the chapel’s rood screen depicting Franciscans and Mercedarians, representatives of the two Orders which at that time had inhabited the building. As co-founder of the Mercedarians, the Dominican Raymond of Penyafort was painted into the scene. His black-and-white habit seems to have foretold the coming of the third religious order which would live in this hallowed place.
Rood Screen, Greyfriars, Elgin
The sisters have been warmly welcomed both by the people of the diocese and by the local residents of Elgin. With its beautiful cloister walkways, monastic refectory, library, cells, and awe-inspiring chapel, Greyfriars convent is very conducive to liv-ing the Dominican life. The sisters have hosted a number of groups at the spacious convent, including Bible studies and catechist formation for adults, retreats and days of recollection for young adults and teenagers, catechesis for sacramental preparation, and weekend retreats for young women. The sisters have also visited schools, led parish retreats, and participated in Catholic events around Scotland. The Dominican charism of teaching finds a wide and varied scope in the diocese and the response has already been very positive.
As in times past, so today Greyfriars Convent seems poised to be a thriving centre for the life of the Church in the north of Scotland. We trust in God’s Providence and look forward to working in this corner of His vineyard for the good of the souls so precious in His sight.