Holy Cows

In 1946, Cistercian monks returned to Scotland for the first time since the Reformation and made the ancient mansion of Nunraw their home. They came from Tipperary in Ireland and purchased the house and the surrounding estates. In 1952, the monks began building the Sancta Maria Abbey just to the southwest of the house on the crest of a foot-hill of the Lammermuirs.

It was an amazing piece of building work, although the fourth side - the Abbey Church - was never completed, and the community worships in what was planned to be the library. The Abbey chapel (Note the Abbot's pastoral staff at his pew on the left.)

Cistercians, of course, are famous as farmers - and you can still see one of the dwindling community (only 14 monks left now) driving a tractor dressed in the habit of the order. Nunraw's speciality is fattening beef cattle. The cows always looks contented (maybe even contemplative!)