Kirby Bellars Priory Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids History
Saint Peter's Parish Church Kirby Bellars
A view of the tower
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Founded	Circa 11th Century
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Administration
Benefice	Upper Wreak
Diocese	Leicester
Province	Canterbury

The Priory of Saint Peter Kirkby upon the Wreak
Monastery information
Location in Leicestershire
Other names	Kirkby Bellairs Priory
Order	Augustinian Canons Regular
Established	1319-1359
Disestablished	1536
Dedicated to	Saint Peter
Diocese	Diocese of Lincoln
Controlled churches	Saint John the Baptist Buckminster All Saints Clipston (until 1363) Saint Mary's Garthorp Saint Mary Magdalene's Stapleford Saint Andrew's Twyford
People
Founder(s)	Sir Roger Beler
Site
Location	Leicestershire, England
Coordinates	52°45′30″N 0°56′17″W / 52.758245°N 0.93807°W / 52.758245; -0.93807
Visible remains	The Parish Church of Saint Peter was formally the Priory Church. There are some earthworks to the north of the churchyard where the priory house once stood.
Public access	There is a contact for a key in the church porch. The earthworks can be found nearby.

Kirby Bellars Priory was once a small monastery in Leicestershire, England. It was home to a group of religious men called Augustinian Canons Regular. Today, this historic building serves as Anglican Parish Church of Saint Peter's for the village of Kirby Bellars.

How it Began
- Leaders of the College
Becoming an Augustinian Priory
The Priory Closes
Gallery
See also

How it Began

The current Saint Peter's Parish Church has parts that were built way back in the 1200s. At that time, the village was known as Chirchebi.

In 1316, a man named Roger de Beler gave land to support two chaplains. These chaplains were priests who would say special daily prayers, called Requiem Masses, for Roger, his family, and his ancestors. They did this in a private chapel, also dedicated to Saint Peter, at Kirby Bellars Manor House. One chaplain also prayed in a second chapel inside the Parish Church.

In 1319, Roger de Beler expanded this group into a "college" of priests. It included a warden and twelve chaplains. He also gave them more land and control over the nearby Buckminster Manor. The Parish Church of Saint Peter's came under their care in September 1319. It's believed that by 1359, Saint Peter's Church became the main church for the priory too.

After Roger de Beler was sadly murdered in 1326, the college faced some difficult times.

Leaders of the College

Here are some of the early leaders of the college:

William Spigurnel, the first warden, started in 1319.
John Cosyn.
John of Kirby, who passed away in 1338.
Edmund of Coston, who took over in 1338 and died in 1359.
Roger Wiseman, who was appointed and then removed in 1359.

Becoming an Augustinian Priory

In 1359, the college of priests changed into a priory for Augustinian Canons. This new community had a prior (their leader) and twelve canons. They followed the Rule of Saint Augustine, which meant they promised to stay at the priory and focus on prayer and community life.

The canons spent their days in prayer, including eight daily prayer services known as the Liturgy of the Hours. They also held a main service called the Conventual Mass. The de Beler family continued to support the priory and chose to be buried in its church.

Sir Roger de Beler's tomb from 1326, found in St Peter's Priory Church.

In 1363, the canons traded control of All Saints Clipston church for Saint John the Baptist Buckminster church, which was much closer. Later, in 1392, they gained control of Saint Mary's, Garthorpe, and in 1412, Saint Andrews, Twyford.

A Report from 1440

On November 26, 1440, William Alnwick, the Bishop of Lincoln, visited the priory. He was happy with how things were run. He only pointed out small issues, like how some canons dressed or minor mistakes in church services.

The community at that time included:

Henry Dalby, the prior.
William Wylingtone, the sub-prior.
John Knyvet, a canon, aged 54.
William Burtone, a canon, aged 40.
William Shepeshede.
Robert Halifax.
Robert Kyrkeby.
Richard Seusterne.
John Pakyngtone.
William Leycestre.
Thomas Buckmynstre.
William Cusyngtone.
John Chippenham, a canon, aged 44.

Fire and Rebuilding

The Priory Church seen from the River Wreak.

In the early 1500s, a fire badly damaged many of the priory's buildings. In 1511, the prior and canons were allowed to offer Indulgences (special blessings) to people who donated money to help rebuild.

A report from 1518 showed that many buildings still needed repairs. This report also mentioned some problems, like the sub-prior having private property and two canons being suspected of bad behavior. It even said the food for the canons was too fancy!

Another report from 1528 exists. In 1535, the priory's yearly income was about £140, which was not a huge amount. A royal report from the year before the priory was closed said that the buildings were in good condition by then.

The Priory's Symbols

In 1954, two seals from the 14th century belonging to Kirby Bellars Priory were known to exist. These were oval-shaped seals.

The larger seal (63/38mm) was for the whole community. It showed Saint Peter, wearing a special hat called a Mitre, sitting on a fancy throne. Saint Peter's right hand was raised in blessing, and he held keys in his left hand. At the bottom of the seal was a shield with the coat of arms of Sir Roger Beler. The words on this seal meant: "THE HOLY CHURCH OF BLESSED PETER AT KIRKBY UPON THE WREAK."

The smaller seal (35/25mm) belonged to the prior. It showed a standing figure holding a staff and a book. The words on this seal meant: "THE PRIOR OF KIRKBY."

Priors of Kirkby upon the Wreak

Here are the names of the priors who led the community:

Roger of Cotes, appointed in 1359.
Alexander Thurgarton, who served in 1416 and died in 1418 or 1419.
Henry Dalby, elected in 1419, served until 1444.
William Leicester, who resigned in 1461.
William Burton, elected in 1461, died in 1480.
William Kirby, elected in 1480, died in 1488.
Richard Sewstern, elected in 1488, died in 1526.
Thomas Kirby, elected in 1526.
William Kyrkeby, the last prior, served in 1534 and 1535.

The Priory Closes

Kirby Bellars Priory was closed down in 1536. This happened as part of the first wave of the dissolution of the monasteries in England. This was a time when many religious houses were shut down by the King.

Gallery

The south side of the church.
The north side of the church, where a north aisle used to be.
The bell tower, with empty spots for statues of saints.
A view of the main part of the church, looking west.
The blocked-off north aisle, seen from the south aisle.
The sanctuary and rood screen, with people attending a service.
The field north of Saint Peter's Church, where the priory's other buildings once stood. You can see two long, dug-out areas that might be the remains of a moated area.