Markyate Priory facts for kids
One of the common seals of the Priory of Markyate
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 1145 |
| Disestablished | 1537 |
| Site | |
| Location | Markyate, Caddington, Bedfordshire, England |
Markyate Priory was a Benedictine priory, which is a type of religious house for nuns, located in Bedfordshire, England. It was started in 1145 and closed down in 1537.
Contents
History of the Priory
The Markyate Priory was founded in 1145. It was built in a wood that was then part of the area of Caddington. This land belonged to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, London. Ralf de Langford, who was the dean at the time, allowed the priory to be built there.
The priory also received support from Geoffrey, who was the abbot of St. Alban's Abbey. He gave them some money and resources. Because of this, some people thought Markyate Priory was a smaller part of St. Alban's. However, the main control of the priory always stayed with St. Paul's Cathedral.
The story of how the priory began is quite interesting and involves a bit of legend.
The Story of Christina
It is said that a monk named Roger from St. Alban's Abbey went looking for a quiet place to live as a hermit. He found a spot in the woods near Caddington, close to a main road called Watling Street. He lived there alone for some time.
Later, a young woman named Christina from Huntingdon came to him. She felt she also wanted to live a very religious and solitary life. Roger helped her by building a small, simple shelter next to his own. She stayed in this small space for four years, showing great dedication to her spiritual journey.
After Roger passed away, the abbot of St. Alban's took Christina under his care. It was difficult for a woman to live completely alone in the woods. Soon, other women who wanted to live a strict religious life joined Christina. This group eventually formed the priory under the Benedictine rule.
Early Years and Challenges
The priory was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was often called 'Holy Trinity in the Wood.' Sadly, the priory was destroyed by fire almost as soon as it was built. Abbot Geoffrey of St. Alban's had to rebuild it from the ground up.
Christina, the first prioress, was known for her wisdom. She often gave good advice to the abbot. Her existence is confirmed by old documents. During her time, the priory gained some land and property. By the 1200s, it owned at least four churches. However, Markyate Priory was never a very rich place.
In 1259, when the Friars Preachers came to Dunstable, the prioress, Agnes Gobion, sent them bread every day. She did this out of kindness because they were building their church. But later, the friars insisted on continuing to receive the bread forever.
The nuns faced financial difficulties in the late 1200s. In 1290, they even asked the Parliament for help. They said they owed a lot of money and could not survive if they had to pay it all back. They did not get the help they asked for, but they managed to continue. The bishop of Lincoln, Henry Burghersh, also noted their poverty in 1332.
By 1406, there were twelve nuns at the priory. In 1433, there was a prioress, a subprioress, and nine nuns. It seems the priory's income could not support many more.
Official Visits to the Priory
Church leaders would sometimes visit monasteries and priories to check on them. These visits were called visitations.
In 1300, Bishop Dalderby visited Markyate Priory. He came to explain a new rule from Pope Boniface VIII about how nuns should live. The nuns seemed to accept it at first. But after he left, four nuns followed him to the gate and said they would not follow the rule. The bishop returned the next day and made sure the rule was followed.
In 1434, a serious issue was found during a visitation. The prioress, Denise Lewelyck, admitted to not following her vows. She resigned from her position. The priory was in a very difficult state at this time. It took a long time, until 1448, for a new prioress to be chosen. After this, no more visitations are recorded.
The Priory Closes Down
Markyate Priory was closed as part of the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act. This act meant that smaller monasteries with incomes less than £200 a year were shut down. The exact date of its closing is not known, but it happened before February 10, 1537. On that date, the last prioress, Joan Zouche, received her first pension payment.
After the Priory Closed
After the priory was closed, a large house called Markyate Cell was built on its site. A famous resident of this house was Lady Katherine Ferrers, who was known as a highwaywoman.
What the Priory Owned
The priory's first gifts included land from St. Paul's Cathedral and money from St. Alban's Abbey. Over time, it gained more land in different counties like Oxfordshire. By the 1200s, it owned rights to income from places like Sundon and Streatley.
When the priory closed, it owned several manors and lands in different parts of England. It also received income from various churches and chapels. The total value of its possessions was about £155, which was a good amount for the time, but still considered a "lesser monastery."
Prioresses of Markyate
Here are the names of the leaders of Markyate Priory:
- Christina, prioress from 1145
- Isabel
- Joan, recorded in 1212 and 1238
- Agnes Gobion, recorded in 1259, died 1274
- Isabel Gobion, chosen 1274, resigned 1280
- Alice de Basseville, chosen 1280, died 1284
- Lora de Kantia, chosen 1284, died 1291
- Maud of Luton, chosen 1291
- Bennet or Benedicta of Whitacre, chosen 1332
- Joan Power, died 1349
- Alice Spigurnel, chosen 1349
- Isabel of Ashby, resigned 1350
- Joan of Stanbridge, chosen 1350
- Sibyl Attelburgh, died 1406
- Benington, chosen 1406
- Denise Lewelyck, recorded in 1431, resigned 1434
- Joan Wyrell, chosen 1448
- Agnes Stephens, chosen 1508, died 1508
- Joan Zouche, chosen 1508, surrendered the priory in 1536
Priory Seals
A seal is like a stamp used to confirm documents. Markyate Priory had several seals.
- One very old seal from the first prioress showed Jesus Christ seated on a throne.
- The main seal used by the priory showed the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It had a figure on a throne holding a crucifix.
- Another similar seal showed the figure under a fancy triple archway, with a shield below.
Images for kids
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One of the common seals of the Priory of Markyate
