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Abbot of Peterborough facts for kids

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A abbot was the leader of an abbey, which is a special kind of monastery where monks live and pray. The Abbey of Peterborough in England was once known as "Medeshamstede". This list tells you about the important abbots who led Peterborough Abbey throughout its history. They were responsible for guiding the monks, managing the abbey's lands, and overseeing its buildings.

Abbots Who Led Peterborough Abbey

Name Dates What They Did Interesting Facts
Sexwulf c. 654–c. 676 Founded the abbey. Later became an important church leader, the Bishop of Mercia.
Cuthbald c. 676
Egbald before 716
Pusa
Botwine ?x765–779x?
Beonna ?x789–805x?
Ceolred
Hedda 870
Ealdwulf 972–992 Later became the Archbishop of York, a very high-ranking church official.
Cenwulf 992–1006 Built a wall around the abbey. Became the Bishop of Winchester in 1006.
Ælfsige 1006–1042 Traveled with King Æthelred the Unready and Queen Emma to Normandy.
Earnwig 1042–1052 He was described as a "very good and sincere man" and chose to step down even though he was healthy.
Leofric 1057–1066 Gave many gifts to the monastery. His gifts made the monastery so rich it was called 'Golden Borough'.
Brand 1066–1069
Turold of Fécamp [fr] 1069–1098 He used the abbey's wealth for himself and his friends, giving away a lot of its land.
Godric 4 days in 1099
Matthias 1103–1104
Ernulf 1107–1114 Started new building projects. Later became the Bishop of Rochester. He helped improve the abbey's money situation.
John de Séez 1114–1125 Continued building work. Rebuilding started in 1117 after a big fire in 1116.
Abbey held by King Henry I 1125–1127 The king managed the abbey during this time.
Henry de Angeli 1128–1133 Did not help with rebuilding. He wasted the abbey's resources and was sent away.
Martin de Bec 1133–1155 Continued construction work. He was a monk from Bec and a leader at St Neots before coming to Peterborough.
William of Waterville 1155–1175 He was removed from his position.
Benedict 1177–1194 He was a chronicler, meaning he wrote down historical events.
Andrew 1194–1199 Worked on the west front of the church.
Acharius 1200–1210 Worked on the west front of the church.
Robert of Lindsey 1214–1222
Alexander of Holderness 1222–1226
Martin of Ramsey 1226–1233
Walter of Bury St. Edmunds 1233–1245 The church building was finally completed and officially dedicated on October 6, 1238.
William of Hotoft 1246–1249
John de Caux 1250–1262
Robert of Sutton 1262–1273
Richard of London 1274–1295
William of Woodford 1295–1299
Godfrey of Crowland 1299–1321 A chapel dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury was built.
Adam of Boothby 1321–1338
Henry of Morcott 1338–1353
Robert of Ramsey 1353–1361
Henry of Overton 1361–1391
Nicholas of Elmstow 1391–1396
William Genge 1397–1408
John Deeping 1409–1439
Richard Ashton 1439–1471
William Ramsey 1471–1496
Robert Kirton 1496–1528 Oversaw the building of "the new building," the latest part of the church at the east end.
John Chambers 1528–1539 He was given a special role as the first bishop of Peterborough because he helped with the changes during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many monasteries were closed. The care for the church then passed to the dean of Peterborough.

Sources

  • 'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Peterborough', A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 83–95. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=40221. Date accessed: 29 May 2007.
  • Peterborough Chronicle.
  • Stenton, F.M., "Medeshamstede and its Colonies", in Stenton, D.M. (ed.), Preparatory to 'Anglo-Saxon England'being the collected Papers of Frank Merry Stenton, OUP, 1970.
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