Goring Priory facts for kids
Goring Priory was an old monastery in Oxfordshire, England. It was a home for a special group of nuns called Augustinian Canonesses. These nuns followed the rules of Saint Augustine. The priory was built a very long time ago, even before the year 1181.
A Home for Nuns
Goring Priory was a place where women could live together and dedicate their lives to religious service. They were known as canonesses, which is a type of nun. They followed a set of rules based on the teachings of Saint Augustine.
Spreading the Nuns' Way of Life
The nuns from Goring Priory helped start other monasteries. For example, in 1265 or 1266, a new place called Burnham Abbey was built. A powerful person named Richard, Earl of Cornwall helped create it. An entire group of nuns from Goring Priory moved there to start the new community.
Another example is Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire. It was founded in the early 1200s by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. In 1232, the first nuns joined Lacock Abbey. One of the very first nuns was Alicia Garinges. She was probably a nun from Goring Priory before she moved to Lacock. This shows how important Goring Priory was in spreading the way of life for nuns in medieval England.
What Was on Their Seal?
The official seal of Goring Priory had a special picture on it. It showed the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. This picture is known as the "Seat of Wisdom." It was a common image for seals used by nunneries in medieval England. The image shows the Virgin Mary sitting down and looking forward. She is holding or presenting the Christ Child on her lap. This image was a symbol of wisdom and protection for the priory.
