Abbot of Bury St Edmunds facts for kids
The Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds was the leader of a very important Benedictine monastery called Bury St. Edmunds Abbey. This famous abbey was located in Suffolk, England. An abbot was like the head teacher or principal of the monastery, guiding the monks who lived there.
What Was an Abbot?
An abbot was the head of a monastery. Monasteries were places where monks lived together. These monks followed special religious rules. The Benedictine order was one of the oldest groups of monks. The abbot was in charge of everything. This included the monks, the buildings, and the lands owned by the abbey.
The Abbots of Bury St. Edmunds Abbey
Bury St. Edmunds Abbey was founded in the year 1020. It was a very powerful and wealthy abbey in England. The abbots listed below led the abbey from its beginning until it was closed down in 1539. This closing was part of a big change in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
| Abbots of Bury St. Edmunds | From | To | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uvius/ Ufi | 1020 | 1044 | Founded St. George's Priory, Thetford. |
| 2 | Leofstan | 1044 | 1065 | |
| 3 | Baldwin | 1065 | 1097 | |
| 4 | Robert I | 1100 | 1102 | Son of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester |
| 5 | Robert II | 1102 | 1107 | |
| 6 | Alebold of Jerusalem | 1114 | 1119 | |
| 7 | Anselm of St Saba | 1121 | 1146 | Nephew of Anselm of Canterbury. He was chosen to be bishop of London in 1138, but was not officially made bishop. |
| 8 | Ording | 1146 | 1156 | Elected abbot while Anselm was bishop-elect (1138), then re-elected after Anselm's death. |
| 9 | Hugo/Hugh I | 1157 | 1180 | Re-founded St. George's Priory, Thetford around 1160. Stories about the monastery were written during his time. |
| 10 | Samson of Tottington | 1182 | 1211 | |
| 11 | Hugh of Northwold | 1215 | 1229 | Became Bishop of Ely. |
| 12 | Richard | 1229 | 1234 | Also known as 'Richard of the Isle of Ely'. |
| 13 | Henry of Rushbrook | 1235 | 1248 | |
| 14 | Edmund of Walpole | 1248 | 1256 | |
| 15 | Simon of Luton | 1257 | 1279 | |
| 16 | John of Northwold | 1279 | 1301 | |
| 17 | Thomas of Tottington | 1302 | 1312 | |
| 18 | Richard of Draughton | 1312 | 1335 | |
| 19 | William of Bernham | 1335 | 1362 | William died on the last day of February 1361 – 1362. |
| 20 | Henry of Hunstanton | 1362 | 1362 | Henry's time as abbot was very short. |
| 21 | John of Brinkley | 1362 | 1379 | John of Brinkley was chosen after Henry died. |
| 22 | John of Timworth | 1379 | 1389 | The Pope's choice for Abbot was Edmund Bromefield for 5 years during this time. |
| 23 | William of Cratfield | 1390 | 1415 | |
| 24 | William of Exeter | 1415 | 1429 | |
| 25 | William Curteys | 1429 | 1446 | |
| 26 | William Babington | 1446 | 1453 | |
| 27 | John Bohun | 1453 | 1469 | |
| 28 | Robert Ixworth | 1469 | 1474 | See Ixworth Priory, Ixworth. |
| 29 | Richard Hengham | 1474 | 1479 | |
| 30 | Thomas Rattlesden | 1479 | 1497 | See Rattlesden. |
| 31 | William Cadenham | 1497 | 1513 | |
| 32 | John Reeve | 1513 | 1539 | Sometimes called 'John Reeve of Melford'; he died on March 31, 1540. |
The End of the Abbey
On November 4, 1539, Bury St. Edmunds Abbey was officially closed. This was part of a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII ordered all monasteries in England to close. Abbot John Reeve and forty-two other monks signed the document to give up the abbey. All of them were given money to live on after the abbey closed.
