Lawrence of Durham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lawrence of Durham
Born	Waltham, Essex
Died	March 1154 France
Resting place	Durham
Other names	Lawrence/Laurence of Waltham
Education	Church of the Holy Cross school, Waltham
Years active	2nd quarter of the 12th century
Known for	Latin poetry
Title	Prior of Durham
Term	1149–1154
Predecessor	Roger
Successor	Absalom

Lawrence of Durham (died 1154) was an important English Latin poet and writer from the 12th century. He was also a prelate, which means a high-ranking church official. Lawrence was born in Waltham, Essex, in southern England.

He received a religious education and was very good at singing and writing poetry. As a young man, Lawrence joined Durham Cathedral Priory and became a Benedictine monk. In the 1130s, he became a courtier, or advisor, to Geoffrey Rufus, who was the bishop of Durham.

After Bishop Geoffrey died, Lawrence strongly opposed William Cumin, who tried to take over as bishop. Lawrence was even sent away from the monastery for a short time. After Cumin was defeated, William de Ste Barbe became the new bishop. Lawrence then rose through the ranks, becoming sub-prior (deputy leader) and later the prior of Durham (the main leader of the monastery). During his time as a monk in Durham, Lawrence wrote several important works in Latin, including the Dialogi and the Hypognosticon.

Lawrence of Durham: A Medieval Scholar

Early Life and Education

Lawrence was born in Waltham, Essex. He once said that Waltham was famous for its poets. We don't know his exact birth year, but it was likely around 1114, or perhaps a bit earlier. He was taller than average and went to school at the church of Waltham Abbey, also known as the church of the Holy Cross.

After his schooling, he joined Durham Cathedral Priory as a novice (a monk in training). This was during the time when Ranulf Flambard was the bishop of Durham (1099–1128). Two teachers from Waltham, Athelard and his son Peter, were active then, and one of them probably taught Lawrence.

Lawrence continued his studies at Durham. He learned the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music). He especially enjoyed reading famous authors like Virgil, Plato, and Plotinus. Lawrence was highly praised for his poetry and beautiful singing when he was young. He might have even taught Ailred of Rievaulx, who later became an important abbot.

Life as a Monk and Bishop's Advisor

Lawrence became part of the bishop's court when Geoffrey Rufus was bishop (1133–1141). He was likely a chaplain, which is a priest who serves a specific person or group. Lawrence was also the cantor, meaning he led the singing in the church. He might have also managed the bishop's money as a receiver general.

Standing Up for What's Right

After Bishop Geoffrey died, one of his former advisors, William Cumin, tried to become the new bishop. Cumin gained support from many local powerful people. However, he did not get approval from the monks or the archdeacon, who insisted on a proper canonical election (a fair election according to church rules).

For two years, William Cumin had the support of Henry of Scotland, the earl of Northumberland, and his father, the Scottish king. This struggle for power was part of a larger conflict in England called The Anarchy. This was a civil war between Stephen de Blois and Empress Matilda over who should be king or queen of England.

By late 1142, Cumin lost most of his support. In 1143, William de Ste Barbe was properly elected as the new bishop in York. Cumin then took over the monastery and forced the monks, including Lawrence, to leave. Lawrence strongly opposed Cumin, and his writings show how much he disagreed with him. He was known as "one of the most persistent opponents of Cumin."

Becoming Prior of Durham

After Cumin's defeat, Lawrence gained more important positions within the monastery. By November 1147, he was the sub-prior, or deputy leader. When Prior Roger died in 1148 or 1149, Lawrence became the new leader of the monastery. He is first mentioned as the prior of Durham in 1149. This was the most important church position in the area, second only to the bishop. Lawrence remained prior until his death.

His Final Journey

Lawrence died in March 1154. He had traveled to Rome to get approval for Hugh du Puiset to become the new bishop of Durham. This was because William de Ste Barbe had died in 1152. On his way back from Rome, Lawrence became ill in a French town and passed away. His body was later brought back and buried in Durham.

Lawrence's Writings

Lawrence of Durham was a talented writer. His works give us a glimpse into his life and the world he lived in.

Vita Sanctae Brigidae

His earliest known work is the Vita Sanctae Brigidae. This is a Latin hagiography, which is a biography of a saint. It tells the story of the Irish saint Brigid of Kildare. Lawrence explained that he received an older, "half-barbaric" version of the story from the father of Ailred of Rievaulx. Lawrence then improved the writing style and sent it to Ailred. This happened between 1130 and 1134, when Ailred was working for David I, the King of the Scots. Lawrence's letter to Ailred still exists today.

Hypognosticon

Lawrence's most famous work during the Middle Ages was the Hypognosticon. Many copies of this book still exist. The title means "abbreviation," according to Lawrence. He wrote this book while he was working at Bishop Geoffrey's court, before 1141.

The Hypognosticon is a long poem with nine books. It tells the story of mankind from the creation of the world up to Lawrence's own time, using unrhymed couplets (two lines that go together). Lawrence had been working on a different version of the the Bible in poetry. But being part of the bishop's court meant he could only write about 40 lines a day. One Christmas, his work disappeared, and Lawrence believed a maid-servant had stolen it. The Hypognosticon is an improved version of what he could remember of that lost work, and he wrote it in just one month.

Dialogi

Another important work by Lawrence is the Dialogi, which means "Dialogues." This book is considered his "most original work." It is made up of four books of conversations, each with about 550 lines of poetry. The dialogues feature Lawrence himself, another monk from Durham named Philip, and a man from Brittany named Peter.

In the first two books, Lawrence and Philip are in exile. Lawrence talks about how much he misses the good times when Bishop Geoffrey was alive. He also describes the great things about Durham and criticizes Cumin and his soldiers. In the third and fourth books, the two monks are allowed to return. Lawrence then shares stories about his own childhood, and the characters discuss different moral ideas.

Consolatio de Morte Amici

Lawrence is also believed to have written the Consolatio de Morte Amici, which means "Consolation on the Death of a Friend." This work mixes prose (regular writing) and poetry. It is very similar to a famous book by Boethius called De Consolatione Philosophiae (The Consolation of Philosophy). In this work, Lawrence is sad about the death of his friend, Paganus. Another character, an interlocutor (someone who takes part in a conversation), convinces him not to mourn. The interlocutor explains that Paganus's soul is immortal and that God loves him.

Lawrence also wrote other shorter pieces, including speeches and poems about various topics.