A pilgrim’s journey: visiting the priory

Pilgrims followed a special route through the priory at Whithorn and were probably ushered by canons and priory servants.

Beginning at the Priory’s west door, pilgrims entered the nave to pray.

They would then have moved into the choir at the eastern end, which housed Ninian’s relics in a shrine chapel.

Having prayed here, the pilgrims would have been taken down a stair into the crypt, where they prayed at the tomb of Saint Ninian.

Thereafter, pilgrims returned to the choir via another stair.

This pilgrim route changed in about 1500 when the southern chapel was attached to the eastern end of the priory to house the relics.

The crypt was re-organised and a large vaulted space to the south of the crypt (undercroft) was added. This created a new exit for pilgrims and meant that the exit to the choir could be blocked.

Almost nothing survives of the shrine. It was beautifully decorated with silver, gold and fine carvings.

Many were given to the priory by those who had benefited from Saint Ninian’s miracles. These include

• a silver ship donated in 1441 by a French envoy in thanks to Saint Ninian for saving his life at sea and
• a silver gilt reliquary for Saint Ninian’s bones provided by King James IV.