Huntingdon Priory facts for kids

The Priory of St Mary, Huntingdon was an Augustinian Priory in Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire), England. A priory is like a monastery, a place where religious people called canons lived and prayed.

What Was Huntingdon Priory?

Huntingdon Priory was a home for a group of religious men called Augustinian canons. These canons followed a special set of rules, similar to monks. They dedicated their lives to prayer and study. The priory was located in Huntingdon, a town in England.

How Did the Priory Start?

We don't know the exact year Huntingdon Priory was built. Some historians think it might have been a very old religious site that was rebuilt. It was founded by a man named Eustace de Lovetot. He was the sheriff of Huntingdon. A sheriff was an important official who kept law and order in the area.

Eustace's family continued to support the priory. His son, William, also helped the Augustinians. This shows that the family had a strong connection to this religious group. By the late 1090s, canons were already living and praying at the church.

Who Supported the Priory?

Many important people supported Huntingdon Priory over the years.

• Christina of Markyate: Around 1098, a famous holy woman named Christina of Markyate had a special experience involving the priory. Her mother saw a dove fly from the priory and land on her sleeve. This made her mother believe Christina was blessed. Christina herself was taught by a canon from Huntingdon named Sueno.
• Merton Priory Connection: In 1114, a subprior (a leader) from Huntingdon named Robert left to help start another priory. He went to help Gilbert, who was the sheriff of several areas, to found Merton Priory.
• Royal Support: King Henry I of England confirmed the priory's lands and gifts. His wife, Matilda of Scotland, was a big supporter of the Augustinian movement in England. Her brother, David I of Scotland, was also a powerful earl in Huntingdon. He gave many gifts to the priory.
• Local Families: The Lovetot family continued to be important supporters. Later, through marriages, the priory also became connected to the powerful de Mandeville family.

Daily Life and Challenges

Huntingdon Priory usually had about 16 canons living there. They owned a good amount of land and churches. This wealth helped them to offer hospitality to visitors.

However, the priory faced tough times. In the 14th century, it struggled with money problems. It was also hit hard by the terrible disease known as the Black Death. This plague killed many people across Europe, including those in religious communities.

The End of the Priory

By 1532, Huntingdon Priory had become quite poor. In 1536, the king, Henry VIII, began to close down many monasteries in England. This was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The 12 canons at Huntingdon Priory were very devoted. They paid a huge fine to try and stop their priory from being closed. This payment only gave them two more years. In 1538, the priory was finally shut down. The eight remaining canons were given pensions, which were like retirement payments. After that, the monastery buildings were destroyed.