1. Saint Patrick

Christianity had been brought to Ireland by Saint Patrick around 432 AD. One night he and his followers camped in a valley where they saw a vision of angels worshipping God. Afterwards the valley was called Vallis Angelorum or Valley of the Angels. The valley was located in the area of Beannchor, or Bangor in English. There is an engraved glass screen in the tower of the present day Bangor Abbey depicting the vision of the Vallis Angelorum.

2. Foundation

In the year 555 AD Comgall founded an abbey at the head of the Valley of the Angels. It quickly grew until 3000 studied, prayed, and worshipped on the site. Life in the abbey was strict - sometimes Comgall and his followers prayed immersing themselves in the cold waters of the stream which flowed through the abbey site - but this did not deter men from joining. The reputation of the abbey spread throughout Europe and Bangor became known as Beannchor Mor or Bangor the Great. At this time the abbey was also referred to as Bangor, Light of the World

3. Worship and Outreach

The abbey was known for its emphasis on praise and worship and evangelism. Continual praise and worship were offered up for over 150 years and monks from Bangor took the gospel to Britain and Europe reaching as far as Northern Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. Among the best known were Columbanus and Gall. Columbanus reached Bobbio in Northern Italy and Gall evangelised what is now Switzerland. The city of St Gallen is named after him. Anagray, Luxeuil and Fontaines in France were founded by Bangor monks and became well known seats of learning. It must be remembered that Europe had largely collapsed into paganism after the fall of the Roman Empire early in the 5th century.

4. Decline

Bangor was repeatedly attacked by the Vikings and others from 613 AD onwards, thousands of monks being killed in these raids. Faced with this onslaught the abbey had reached a low ebb by the 12th century. There was a brief revival under Malachy who is known to have built the first stone church on the site. However decline continued and the abbey was officially dissolved by Henry VIII in 1542. The empty buildings were burnt out in 1572 when there was an attempt to establish an English settlement in North Down.

5. Plantation

Sir James Hamilton from Ayrshire established a Scottish settlement in North Down early in the 17th century, Bangor being constituted a borough in 1612. A new parish church was built on the site of the abbey by 1623. This new church incorporated the 14th century tower of the last abbey and the distinctive spire was added in 1693. The church was enlarged in 1844 and it is substantialy this church which can be seen today. The other abbey buildings were demolished by the settlers who used the stone for their own buildings. Bangor Abbey church closed when Saint Comgall's parish church was completed in 1899, but was reopened in 1917 and remains in use to this day.

6. Modern Times

The head of the Valley of the Angels was buried by the construction of Bangor railway station in the 1860's and the lower end of the valley is now the route of Southwell Road. The stream itself is now culverted throughout its length. Interestingly, Bangor is now twinned with Bregenz in Austria which was founded by monks from Bangor.

Apart from the abbey church tower the only surviving remnant of the abbey is a section of 12th century wall adjacent to Abbey Street which is known as Saint Malachy's Wall.

There is an excellent model of the earliest Bangor Abbey and other exhibits at Bangor Heritage Centre.

Bibliography

Bangor Abbey through fourteen centuries - Canon James Hamilton

Bangor Light of the World - Iain Adamson

North Down Borough Council - Bangor Heritage Centre - various leaflets:

• A short history of Bangor Abbey
• A short history of Bangor
• Saint Comgall 517 - 630
• Saint Gall 555 - 630
• Saint Malachy 1094 - 1148

Brian Templeton

The author

This article was researched and written by Brian Templeton, a member of West Church.

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