Arbury Priory facts for kids
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arbury Priory of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Order | Augustinian Canons Regular |
| Established | 1154 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Ralph de Sudeley |
| Site | |
| Location | Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, England |
Arbury Priory was a special kind of monastery for Augustinian monks in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, England. Monasteries are places where monks or nuns live, work, and pray together.
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What Was Arbury Priory?
Arbury Priory was a religious house built for a group of monks called the Augustinian Canons Regular. These monks followed a set of rules created by Saint Augustine. They lived together and dedicated their lives to God.
When Was It Built?
The priory was started around the year 1154. This was during the early years of King Henry II's rule in England. A nobleman named Ralph de Sudeley was its founder. He built it to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
How Was It Supported?
When Arbury Priory was first built, it received gifts of land and churches. This was called its "endowment." The monks were given the churches of Chilvers Coton and Dassett. They also received land and rights to collect wood for building and burning. Later, they were given another church in Weston under Wetherley. Over many years, the priory gained more land through gifts and purchases.
Changes at the Priory
In 1235, an important church leader, the Pope, looked into how the monks at Arbury Priory were living. He found that they were not following their religious rules very strictly.
A New Way of Life
The Pope ordered the Bishop of Coventry to help the monks change. He wanted them to follow the rules of Saint Augustine more closely. To help with this, some monks who already followed these rules were moved to Arbury from other monasteries. This helped the monks at Arbury learn and adopt the proper way of life.
The End of Arbury Priory
Arbury Priory continued for many years. However, in 1536, a big change happened across England. This time was known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries and priories.
What Happened Next?
At the time it closed, Arbury Priory had a leader, called a prior, and six other monks. They also had several servants. After the priory was closed, King Henry VIII gave the land to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. He was a close friend of the King.
Later, the Duke's family sold the priory land to Sir Edmund Anderson. He was a very important judge. Sir Edmund tore down the old priory buildings. He used the stones and other materials to build a new, grand house called Arbury Hall.
