Marwell College facts for kids

Marwell College was a special kind of religious school for priests in Marwell Park, Owslebury, Hampshire, England. It was a place where priests lived and prayed together. These priests were called "secular priests" because they lived and worked among people, not in a closed monastery. Sometimes, the name Marwell was spelled Merwell or Merewell.

Founding Marwell College

Who Started It?

Bishop Henry of Blois started Marwell College between 1129 and 1171. He built a church or chapel in Marwell Park. This church was dedicated to several saints, including St. Stephen, St. Lawrence, St. Vincent, and St. Quintin.

Why Was It Built?

Next to the church, houses and other buildings were put up. These were for four priests. Their main job was to pray continuously for the King of England. They also prayed for the Bishops of Winchester and other good people. Bishop Blois gave the college money and property to support it. He gave them £13 from rents in Twyford. Each priest received 60 shillings, and 20 shillings were for church decorations and lights.

Life and Rules at the College

New Rules from Bishop Peter des Roches

In 1226, Bishop Peter des Roches added a deacon to the college. A deacon is a church helper, often training to be a priest. He also gave the college 50 large bags of grain and four cartloads of hay every year. This food came from the church leader of Bishopstoke.

Bishop des Roches also set clear rules for the priests. These rules helped them live and work together as a group.

Daily Life and Discipline

The four priests had to choose one of their group to be the prior each year. The prior was like their leader. Everyone had to obey the prior, both inside and outside the church.

The rules said that no one could miss their daily prayer times. They also had to eat their meals together. No one could be away from the college at night without the prior's permission. The prior could only give permission for eight days of leave. If a priest wanted more time off, they had to ask the bishop.

The rules were strict about behavior. If anyone was found doing something seriously wrong, they would be sent away. They would not be allowed to return. The priests had to wear special white robes called surplices. They also wore black cloaks in the choir. They followed a specific set of church practices called the Sarum use. This was for all services, from morning prayers to evening prayers. From the money Bishop Blois had given, £1 was for each priest's clothes. The remaining £8 was used for common needs, decided by the prior and the other priests.

Changes Over Time

Bishop Henry Woodlock (1305-1316) was born at Marwell. He added more property to the college. However, the money the college had was not enough. Prices for goods and services went up over time.

By 1535, a survey of church wealth called the Valor Ecclesiasticus showed problems. The college was then called a chantry. This meant it was mainly a place for prayers for the dead. It could only support two priests instead of four.

Eventually, Marwell College was closed down. The college, along with the bishop's estate and manor house, became the property of Sir Henry Seymour.