Changes In Scotland During The Twelfth Century

During the twelfth century many changes were made throughout Scotland and in particularly in the church. In Scotland we saw the re-emergence of a diocesan structure and several major monasteries were established. With help from the royal family, lay patrons and reformed churchmen many attempts were made to bring the practices of the Scottish religious beliefs into line with the rest of Western Christendom. The papacy also took an active part in supervising this change. It has been claimed that it was Queen Margaret who had instigated the change in the Scottish church and her son David I carried on with the reform. The re-creation of the diocesan system was important to David I and his successors not just because it brought Scotland in to line with the rest of Western Christendom but

These monasteries as well as a show of prestige and money allowed Scotland to become part an international institution and to be part of Western Christendom in its own right. By the time William the Lion came to the throne in 1165 there were no fewer than 20 religious houses of four orders . This in itself shows how Scottish Kings were receptive to change and imported many different foreign practices. The royal patronage of monasteries also allowed the Scottish kings to affirm their birth right as king as it had been given by God. For example Walter Bower in the Scotichronicon 1440s writes “in accordance with custom which had grown up in the kingdom from antiquity right up to that time…” shows that the King of Scots used the Church as a tool not only to consolidate the realm but also to give a sense of longevity to the Royal family and somehow claim a god given right to their lordship. In the thirteenth century Scottish Kings also appealed to the Pope to grant approval for coronation to ensure they were never again held to overlord ship claims from England, however this was also