Sweetheart Abbey

Dervorguilla of Galloway is not the most attractive of names, but it belonged to a woman who died in 1290, the mother of John I, King of Scotland. She loved her husband, John de Balliol, so much, that when he died, she had his heart placed in an ivory and silver casket which she always kept with her, and then had it buried with her when she died. In an era of arranged marriages and politically motivated matches, this was love indeed. She went on to found in 1275 the abbey of Dulce Cor, which may be translated Sweet Heart. Thus in the village of New Abbey stands the remains of Sweetheart Abbey.

The heart is the very centre of the man; the Authorised Version sometimes uses bowel, which was more acceptable at the time of James Stuart, and also referred to the very innermost of our being. Dervorguilla loved John, and John perhaps loved Dervorguilla, but there is no love like that of Christ for His people. May His people learn to love Him more: to talk with Him daily, to walk with him hourly, to part from Him never.

And the Lord guide your hearts to the love of God, and the waiting for of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5, NKJV