Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate facts for kids
The Holy Trinity Priory, also known as Christchurch Aldgate, was an important priory in London. It was founded around 1108 by Queen Matilda of England, who was the wife of King Henry I of England. The priory was located near Aldgate.
Queen Matilda got help and advice from Anselm of Canterbury, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, to set up the priory. The first canons (priests) came from St. Botolph's Priory in Colchester. The first leader, called a prior, was Norman, who was the queen's personal advisor.
By 1115, a large area of land called the soke or liberty of East Smithfield was given to the Holy Trinity Priory. This included the area known as Portsoken. Because of this, the prior of the priory became an important person in London, acting as an ex officio Alderman. This meant he was automatically a city leader.
Matilda of Boulogne, another queen, also had a close connection with the priory. Two of her children were buried there, and she chose the prior as her confessor (a priest she would talk to for spiritual guidance). In the 12th century, the priory was known as a great place for learning, especially under Prior Peter of Cornwall.
The Holy Trinity Priory was closed down in February 1532. This happened during the time of King Henry VIII of England, when many monasteries were closed in England. This event is known as the Dissolution of the monasteries. The king then gave or sold the buildings and land to important people and merchants in the city.
Today, almost none of the original buildings are left. You can still see some pointed arches inside an office building at the corner of Aldgate and Mitre Street. Mitre Street itself follows where the main part of the priory church used to be. Mitre Square is roughly where the cloister (a covered walkway) of the priory once stood.
Important People Buried Here
Many notable people were buried at the Holy Trinity Priory, including:
- Geoffrey FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex
- Agnes (died 1403), daughter of Michael de Poynings, 1st Baron Poynings
- Baldwin of Blois, son of King Stephen (died before 1135)
- Matilda of Blois, daughter of King Stephen (died before 1141)
- Rohese de Boulogne, wife of Richard de Luci
- Lady Margaret Tibetot Scrope, wife of Roger Scrope, 2nd Baron Scrope of Bolton
Priors of the Priory
The priors were the leaders of the Holy Trinity Priory. Some of them include:
- Norman (died 1147) - a student of Anselm of Canterbury
- Ralph (died 1167)
- William
- Peter of Cornwall (Prior from 1197 to 1221)
- Richard de Temple
- John de Toking
- Eustace (Prior from 1264 to 1280)
- William Aygnel
- Nicholas Hancocke
Images for kids
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A blue Plaque for the Holy Trinity Priory in St James Passage - lostlcp.com
