NZ1885 : Newminster Abbey 1NZ1885 : Newminster Abbey 2NZ1885 : Newminster Abbey 3NZ1885 : Newminster Abbey 4Newminster Abbey was founded in 1139 by monks from Fountains Abbey at the invitation of Ranulph de Merley. Its first abbot was canonised as St Robert of Newminster and the Roman Catholic chapel in Morpeth is dedicated to him. [Murray's Handbook:1890]