diff --git a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/DocumentDefaultsDefinition.cs b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/DocumentDefaultsDefinition.cs
index eccaa27d..e277f005 100644
--- a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/DocumentDefaultsDefinition.cs
+++ b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/DocumentDefaultsDefinition.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
         private string dependencyCheck;
         private string lazyInit;
         private string merge;
+        private string initMethod;
+        private string destroyMethod;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets or sets the autowire setting for the document that's currently parsed.
@@ -73,5 +75,25 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
             get { return merge; }
             set { merge = value; }
         }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Get or sets the init method for the document that's currently parsed.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value>The init method</value>
+        public string InitMethod
+        {
+            get { return initMethod; }
+            set { initMethod = value; }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the destroy method for the document that's currently parsed.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value>The destroy methood</value>
+        public string DestroyMethod 
+        {
+            get { return destroyMethod; }
+            set { destroyMethod = value; } 
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionConstants.cs b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionConstants.cs
index 51c9835e..fefc3d08 100644
--- a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionConstants.cs
+++ b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionConstants.cs
@@ -95,6 +95,15 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
         /// </summary>
 	    public const string DefaultMergeAttribute = "default-merge";
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Specifies the default init method.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const string DefaultInitMethodAttribute = "default-init-method";
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Specifies the default destroy method.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const string DefaultDestroyMethodAttribute = "default-destroy-method";
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Defines a single named object.
diff --git a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionParserHelper.cs b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionParserHelper.cs
index d4a64c38..98849570 100644
--- a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionParserHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectDefinitionParserHelper.cs
@@ -175,6 +175,34 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
 
             #endregion
 
+            ddd.InitMethod = GetAttributeValue(root, ObjectDefinitionConstants.DefaultInitMethodAttribute);
+
+            #region Instrumentation
+
+            if (log.IsDebugEnabled)
+            {
+                log.Debug(
+                    string.Format(
+                        "Default init method '{0}'.",
+                        ddd.InitMethod));
+            }
+
+            #endregion
+
+            ddd.DestroyMethod = GetAttributeValue(root, ObjectDefinitionConstants.DefaultDestroyMethodAttribute);
+
+            #region Instrumentation
+
+            if (log.IsDebugEnabled)
+            {
+                log.Debug(
+                    string.Format(
+                        "Default destroy method '{0}'.",
+                        ddd.DestroyMethod));
+            }
+
+            #endregion
+
             defaults = ddd;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectsNamespaceParser.cs b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectsNamespaceParser.cs
index 2188fdf1..1ab1f877 100644
--- a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectsNamespaceParser.cs
+++ b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/ObjectsNamespaceParser.cs
@@ -488,14 +488,28 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
                 }
                 od.IsPrimary = IsTrueStringValue(primary);
                 string initMethodName = GetAttributeValue(element, ObjectDefinitionConstants.InitMethodAttribute);
-                if (StringUtils.HasText(initMethodName))
+                if (initMethodName != null)
                 {
-                    od.InitMethodName = initMethodName;
+                    if (StringUtils.HasText(initMethodName))
+                        od.InitMethodName = initMethodName;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    if (StringUtils.HasText(childParserContext.ParserHelper.Defaults.InitMethod))
+                        od.InitMethodName = childParserContext.ParserHelper.Defaults.InitMethod;
                 }
                 string destroyMethodName = GetAttributeValue(element, ObjectDefinitionConstants.DestroyMethodAttribute);
-                if (StringUtils.HasText(destroyMethodName))
+                if (destroyMethodName != null)
                 {
-                    od.DestroyMethodName = destroyMethodName;
+                    if (StringUtils.HasText(destroyMethodName))
+                    {
+                        od.DestroyMethodName = destroyMethodName;
+                    }
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    if (StringUtils.HasText(childParserContext.ParserHelper.Defaults.DestroyMethod))
+                        od.DestroyMethodName = childParserContext.ParserHelper.Defaults.DestroyMethod;
                 }
                 if (element.HasAttribute(ObjectDefinitionConstants.SingletonAttribute))
                 {
diff --git a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/spring-objects-2.0.xsd b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/spring-objects-2.0.xsd
index c5febc79..9896a32b 100644
--- a/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/spring-objects-2.0.xsd
+++ b/src/Spring/Spring.Core/Objects/Factory/Xml/spring-objects-2.0.xsd
@@ -589,6 +589,26 @@
                     </xsd:restriction>
                 </xsd:simpleType>
             </xsd:attribute>
+            <xsd:attribute name="default-init-method" type="xsd:string">
+              <xsd:annotation>
+                <xsd:documentation>
+                  <![CDATA[
+                  The default 'init-method' value; see the documentation for the
+                  'init-method' attribute of the 'object' element.
+      					  ]]>
+                </xsd:documentation>
+              </xsd:annotation>
+            </xsd:attribute>
+            <xsd:attribute name="default-destroy-method" type="xsd:string">
+              <xsd:annotation>
+                <xsd:documentation>
+                  <![CDATA[
+	                The default 'destroy-method' value; see the documentation for the
+	                'destroy-method' attribute of the 'object' element.
+      					  ]]>
+                </xsd:documentation>
+              </xsd:annotation>
+            </xsd:attribute>
         </xsd:complexType>
     </xsd:element>
 
diff --git a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-destroy-methods.xml b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-destroy-methods.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..39a8407b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-destroy-methods.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+
+<objects xmlns="http://www.springframework.net" 
+	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" 
+	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.net http://www.springframework.net/xsd/spring-objects.xsd"
+  default-destroy-method="CustomDestroy">
+	
+  <object id="destroy-method1"
+      type="Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml.XmlObjectFactoryTests+DefaultDestroyer, Spring.Core.Tests"
+      lazy-init="true" />
+
+  <object id="destroy-method2"
+      type="Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml.XmlObjectFactoryTests+DefaultDestroyer, Spring.Core.Tests"
+      lazy-init="true"
+      destroy-method="" />
+
+</objects>
diff --git a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-initializers.xml b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-initializers.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..69be468c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Data/Spring/Objects/Factory/Xml/default-initializers.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+
+<objects xmlns="http://www.springframework.net" 
+	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" 
+	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.net http://www.springframework.net/xsd/spring-objects.xsd"
+  default-init-method="Init">
+	
+  <object id="init-method1"
+          type="Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml.XmlObjectFactoryTests+DoubleInitializer, Spring.Core.Tests">
+    <property name="num">
+      <value>7</value>
+    </property>
+  </object>
+
+  <object id="init-method2"
+          type="Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml.XmlObjectFactoryTests+DoubleInitializer, Spring.Core.Tests"
+          init-method="">
+    <property name="num">
+      <value>7</value>
+    </property>
+  </object>
+
+</objects>
diff --git a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Objects/Factory/Xml/XmlObjectFactoryTests.cs b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Objects/Factory/Xml/XmlObjectFactoryTests.cs
index a4b772bd..55a4efa0 100644
--- a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Objects/Factory/Xml/XmlObjectFactoryTests.cs
+++ b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Objects/Factory/Xml/XmlObjectFactoryTests.cs
@@ -884,6 +884,26 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
             Assert.AreEqual(14, in_Renamed.Num);
         }
 
+        [Test]
+        public void DefaultInitMethodIsInvoked()
+        {
+            IResource resource = new ReadOnlyXmlTestResource("default-initializers.xml", GetType());
+            XmlObjectFactory xof = new XmlObjectFactory(resource);
+            DoubleInitializer in_Renamed = (DoubleInitializer)xof.GetObject("init-method1");
+            // Initializer should have doubled value
+            Assert.AreEqual(14, in_Renamed.Num);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DefaultInitMethodDisabled()
+        {
+            IResource resource = new ReadOnlyXmlTestResource("default-initializers.xml", GetType());
+            XmlObjectFactory xof = new XmlObjectFactory(resource);
+            DoubleInitializer in_Renamed = (DoubleInitializer)xof.GetObject("init-method2");
+            // Initializer should have doubled value
+            Assert.AreEqual(7, in_Renamed.Num);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Test that if a custom initializer throws an exception, it's handled correctly.
         /// </summary>
@@ -935,6 +955,30 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
             Assert.IsTrue(iib.destroyed && iib.customDestroyed);
         }
 
+        [Test]
+        public void DefaultDestroyMethodInvoked()
+        {
+            IResource resource = new ReadOnlyXmlTestResource("default-destroy-methods.xml", GetType());
+            XmlObjectFactory xof = new XmlObjectFactory(resource);
+            xof.PreInstantiateSingletons();
+            DefaultDestroyer dd = (DefaultDestroyer)xof.GetObject("destroy-method1");
+            Assert.IsTrue(!dd.customDestroyed);
+            xof.Dispose();
+            Assert.IsTrue(dd.customDestroyed);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DefaultDestroyMethodDisabled()
+        {
+            IResource resource = new ReadOnlyXmlTestResource("default-destroy-methods.xml", GetType());
+            XmlObjectFactory xof = new XmlObjectFactory(resource);
+            xof.PreInstantiateSingletons();
+            DefaultDestroyer dd = (DefaultDestroyer)xof.GetObject("destroy-method2");
+            Assert.IsTrue(!dd.customDestroyed);
+            xof.Dispose();
+            Assert.IsTrue(!dd.customDestroyed);
+        }
+
         [Test]
         public void MultiThreadedLazyInit()
         {
@@ -1942,6 +1986,16 @@ namespace Spring.Objects.Factory.Xml
             }
         }
 
+        public class DefaultDestroyer
+        {
+            public bool customDestroyed;
+
+            public void CustomDestroy()
+            {
+                customDestroyed = true;
+            }
+        }
+
         public class InitAndIB : IInitializingObject, IDisposable
         {
             public static bool constructed;
diff --git a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Spring.Core.Tests.2010.csproj b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Spring.Core.Tests.2010.csproj
index 1abe6791..781700f9 100644
--- a/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Spring.Core.Tests.2010.csproj
+++ b/test/Spring/Spring.Core.Tests/Spring.Core.Tests.2010.csproj
@@ -840,6 +840,8 @@
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\collectionMergingGeneric.xml" />
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\collectionMerging.xml" />
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\collectionConversionGeneric.xml" />
+    <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\default-destroy-methods.xml" />
+    <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\default-initializers.xml" />
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\ctor-args.xml" />
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\objectNameGeneration.xml" />
     <Content Include="Data\Spring\Objects\Factory\Xml\simple-constructor-arg.xml" />