Blackfriars, Montrose

Infobox monastery
name= Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Montrose


order= Dominican
founder= Alan Durward (1st)
James V, John Stewart, Duke of Albany, Patrick Panter (2nd)
established= 13th century (1st)
1518 (2nd)
mother=
disestablished= 1571
diocese= Diocese of Brechin
churches=
people=

The Church of the Friars Preachers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Montrose, commonly called Blackfriars, was a mendicant friary of the Dominican Order founded in the 13th century at Montrose, Scotland. The "Chronica Extracta" claimed that it was founded by Alan Durward. It was however abandoned at some point in the 14th century. In the early 16th century it was alleged that the house had fallen into disuse because it had been burned during a war, perhaps the Wars of Scottish Independence, and neglected thereafter.

On November 14, 1516, John Stewart, Duke of Albany, acting in the name of King James V of Scotland, authorised Patrick Panter, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, to re-institute the house. On May 18, 1517, Pope Leo X granted Albany's petition to transfer the property of St Mary's Hospital to the friary. The papal bull of erection was issued on June 5, 1518. The house had a prior, a sub-prior, and at least eight ordinary friars. The friars appear to have resided at the hospital as much if not more than they did at their former house.

The black friars of Montrose, like mendicants everywhere else in Scotland, were targeted during the lead up to the Scottish Reformation. A letter by Francis II of France and Queen Mary dated February 22, 1559, confirmed the decision of the lords of the secret council to eject the friars and restore the hospital. King James VI of Scotland granted the property and remaining revenues of the friars to the burgh of Montrose on January 1, 1571.

References

* Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., "Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man", Second Edition, (London, 1976)