Abbot of Westminster facts for kids
The Abbot of Westminster was the main leader of Westminster Abbey. An abbot is like a spiritual boss in a monastery, which is a place where monks live and work. Westminster Abbey is a very famous church in London, England, with a long history.
What Was an Abbot?
An abbot was the head of a community of monks. They were in charge of everything at the abbey, from religious services to managing the land and money. The Abbot of Westminster was a very important person in England for many centuries. They often advised kings and queens.
Leaders of Westminster Abbey
For hundreds of years, different abbots led Westminster Abbey. They played a big part in the abbey's history and its role in England. The table below shows some of the people who held this important position.
| Abbots | |
|---|---|
| Edwin | 1049 – c. 1071 |
| Geoffrey of Jumièges | c. 1071 – c. 1075 |
| Vitalis of Bernay | c. 1076 – 1085 |
| Gilbert Crispin | 1085 – 1117 |
| Herbert | 1121 – c. 1136 |
| Gervase de Blois | 1138 – c. 1157 |
| Laurence | c. 1158 – 1173 |
| Walter of Winchester | 1175 – 1190 |
| William Postard | 1191 – 1200 |
| Ralph de Arundel (alias Papillon) | 1200 – 1214 |
| William de Humez | 1214 – 1222 |
| Richard de Berkying | 1222 – 1246 |
| Richard de Crokesley | 1246 – 1258 |
| Phillip de Lewisham | 1258 |
| Richard de Ware | 1258 – 1283 |
| Walter de Wenlok | 1283 – 1307 |
| Richard de Kedyngton (alias Sudbury) | 1308 – 1315 |
| William de Curtlyngton | 1315 – 1333 |
| Thomas de Henley | 1333 – 1344 |
| Simon de Bircheston | 1344 – 1349 |
| Simon Langham | 1349 – 1362 |
| Nicholas de Litlyngton | 1362 – 1386 |
| William de Colchester | 1386 – 1420 |
| Richard Harweden | 1420 – 1440 |
| Edmund Kyrton | 1440 – 1462 |
| George Norwich | 1463 – 1469 |
| Thomas Mylling | 1469 – 1474, later Bishop of Hereford |
| John Esteney | 1474 – 1498 |
| George Fascet | 1498 – 1500 |
| John Islip | 1500 – 1532 |
| William Benson (Abbot Boston) | 1533 – 1540 |
| Bishop intra-Reformation |
|
| Thomas Thirlby | 1540 – 1550 |
| Deans intra-Reformation |
|
| William Benson (Abbot Boston) | 1540 – 1549 |
| Richard Cox | 1549 – 1553 |
| Hugh Weston | 1553 – 1556 |
| Abbot restored by Mary I of England |
|
| John Feckenham | 1556 – 1559 |
| Deans post-Reformation |
|
| Deans | 1560 – present |
Changes at Westminster Abbey
The role of the Abbot changed a lot during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. Because of this, Westminster Abbey stopped having an abbot for a while. Instead, it was led by a Bishop or a Dean. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader, and a dean is the head of a cathedral or a large church like Westminster Abbey.
For a short time, under Queen Mary I, the role of Abbot was brought back. But after her, the abbey went back to being led by deans, which it still is today.
