Roger Norreis facts for kids

Roger Norreis (died between 1223 and 1225) was an important leader at Evesham Abbey in England. He was known for being a very controversial person. He was often given jobs even when others disagreed. When he became the leader of Evesham Abbey, some people said he didn't follow the rules for monks.

In 1202, Roger Norreis had a big disagreement with the monks and the local bishop. This argument lasted for many years until he was removed from his position in 1213. After that, he was made a leader at another smaller monastery. But he was removed again just a few months later. Five years later, he was given the same job back.

Historians today say that Roger Norreis was not a good fit for religious leadership roles. One historian even said he was completely unsuitable for any spiritual job. However, even his biggest critic, Thomas of Marlborough, who was one of his own monks, admitted that Norreis was energetic and good at getting things done. While he was the leader of Evesham Abbey, he managed to finish building the crossing tower of the church.

Roger Norreis died sometime between 1223 and 1225.

Early Life and Career

Roger Norreis came from northern England. His family likely had Norse (Viking) roots. He became a monk at Christ Church Priory. This priory was the main church group for Canterbury Cathedral. We don't know exactly when he became a monk.

In 1187, he became the treasurer of the priory. This meant he managed its money. In this role, he was sent to King Henry II of England. He went to argue for his monastery against Baldwin of Forde. Baldwin was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time. The archbishop and the monks were arguing. Baldwin wanted to build a new church at Hackington. Most monks didn't like this idea. They worried it would make their own priory less important.

Once Norreis met the king, he changed his mind and sided with Archbishop Baldwin. Maybe this happened because Baldwin made Norreis the "cellarer" of Christ Church. A cellarer was in charge of food and supplies. The monks didn't like this appointment. In September, they asked the Pope for help. They said the appointment went against their rules. They even held Norreis captive, telling people he was sick.

Norreis escaped in early 1188. He got out by going through an underground passage. He then fled to the archbishop, who was safe at Otford. Because of his escape route, Norreis was sometimes called Roger Cloacarius. This meant "Roger the Drain-Cleaner." Archbishop Baldwin then tried to make Norreis the leader of another monastery. This was St Martin's, Dover, which belonged to Christ Church. But this appointment never became official.

Becoming a Leader

King Henry died on July 6, 1189. His son Richard I became king on September 3. A new king helped bring a pause to the fight between the Canterbury monks and their archbishop. King Henry had supported the archbishop's plan.

Before a peace deal was made, Archbishop Baldwin made Norreis the prior of Christ Church. This happened in October 1189. It was another move in their ongoing argument. In November, the monks reached an agreement. This deal included stopping the new church project. It also meant Norreis was removed from his job. The agreement was made at a meeting with King Richard. The monks agreed to let the king decide the dispute. In return, the archbishop would remove Norreis.

Norreis's fellow monks thought he had betrayed them. He had a reputation for not having many morals. He was also known for trying to get on the good side of powerful people. This included Geoffrey fitzPeter, a royal official. Many details about Norreis's time at Christ Church come from the writings of Gervase of Canterbury. They also come from a collection of letters called the Epistolae Cantuarienses.

Norreis was chosen to be the abbot of Evesham Abbey in 1190. He was officially blessed as abbot on January 13, 1190. King Richard helped him get this job. Archbishop Baldwin also wanted to make Norreis's removal from Christ Church look less like a defeat. Norreis himself said he got the job for helping King Richard in some way. The monks at Evesham did not get to vote for their new abbot. This went against the church's rules.

One problem was that Norreis often wore regular clothes. He did not wear the special robes that monks were supposed to wear. All these complaints come from Thomas of Marlborough. Thomas was one of Norreis's own monks and a historian. He wrote much of the history of Evesham. His writings about Norreis are not always fair. He often made himself look like a hero. Still, Norreis did some good things for the abbey. While he was abbot, the crossing tower of the church was finished.

At first, Norreis seemed careful. He did not bother his monks too much. But this changed around 1195. That's when the monks first asked higher authorities for help. Evesham Abbey claimed it was free from the control of the Bishop of Worcester. So, the monks could only ask the Pope or a special representative of the Pope for help. Hubert Walter, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was a papal representative. The monks asked him for help. Walter made Norreis agree to some changes. But this peace did not last long. The monks complained again.

The new Bishop of Worcester, John of Coutances, visited them. This was between 1196 and 1198. But Norreis avoided trouble by giving gifts to the bishop. The monks complained to Walter again around 1200. But the archbishop was busy with politics. Norreis also promised to change. So, nothing really happened.

Dispute with Bishop Mauger

In 1202, the new Bishop of Worcester, Mauger, tried to check on Norreis. But the monks, led by Thomas of Marlborough, would not let the bishop visit. They said Evesham was free from the bishop's control. Thomas said Norreis offered to give up this freedom for money. But the bishop refused. Norreis then left the monastery. The monks kept refusing the bishop. So, they were cut off from the church (excommunicated). Norreis was not.

Between early September and mid-October, three church courts heard the dispute. Bishop Mauger was supported by other bishops. The monks and Norreis then joined together. They both promised to resist Mauger. There was also a fight over who owned some properties. The monks and Norreis got the right to have their case heard by special judges chosen by the Pope. But Mauger complained that all the judges were monks. So, he traveled to Rome to appeal.

In 1203, Norreis felt safe because he had his monks' support. He started using the monastery's money for himself and his friends again. His monks became upset. Thomas and other monks went to take back some land Norreis had given away. Norreis complained to King John and Hubert Walter. Both the king and Walter called Thomas to explain. Thomas could not convince them. Nothing was done about Norreis's actions.

Norreis went to Rome with Thomas of Marlborough before 1205. They went to present the abbey's case to the Pope. Thomas stayed in Italy. Norreis returned to England in mid-1205. While in Rome, Norreis and Thomas borrowed money to pay for their legal fight. Norreis could not pay it back. He was almost put in prison. But he managed to leave Rome. One of his friends was held for the debt and died in prison. When Norreis got back to England, Bishop Mauger cut him off from the church in April 1205.

The monks won a victory in 1206. The Pope decided that Evesham Abbey was free from the bishop's visits. But other parts of the argument remained. Later that year, the monks were so angry with Norreis that they left the abbey. They did not come back until Norreis promised to respect their rights.

With the issue of the bishop's control settled, Norreis and his monks stopped being allies. The monks complained about Norreis again. They told a new papal representative, John of Sancta Maria. The representative ordered an investigation. This led to a written agreement. But Norreis gave gifts to the representative's nephew. He refused to sign the agreement. He also got revenge on his opponents. He kicked Thomas of Marlborough and his friends out of the monastery. Thirty monks followed Thomas. Norreis chased them with soldiers. But the monks defeated the soldiers.

Eventually, they reached a compromise. Norreis agreed that the abbey's money would be shared with the monks. He also agreed that abbey officials would be chosen with the monks' advice. And he would not let new monks in or kick monks out without asking the monks first. He also could not sell monastery property without their agreement. Even though the monks' support was settled for a while, the argument over the disputed properties continued. Norreis seemed willing to compromise with the bishop. But the monks refused.

The argument between Norreis and his monks went on for years. A time when church services were stopped (called an interdict) from 1207 to 1213 caused more delays. But when it ended in 1213, the case against Norreis was finally heard. A papal representative visited the abbey. He found that the monks did not have enough food, clothes, or other things they needed. Church services were not being done correctly. This was because the monks lacked proper clothing. Help for the poor had stopped. The monastery buildings were falling apart. The monks had to beg for what they needed. The representative found that the abbot, Norreis, was living well. He wore non-monk clothes. He was enjoying himself while his monks suffered. Norreis was removed from his position as abbot by the papal representative in 1213.

Later Life and Death

On November 27, 1213, Norreis was made the prior of Penwortham Priory. This was a smaller monastery that belonged to Evesham. This was partly to make up for him losing his abbot job. It was also to keep him from leaving monastic life completely. Norreis was removed from this job five months later. This was because of his continued bad behavior. He went to Rome again to try to get his job back. This time, he could not get it. But in 1218 or 1219, he was given his job at Penwortham back. This happened because of the influence of another papal representative.

Norreis died on July 16 or July 19. But historians disagree on the exact year. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography says he died in 1223. But other historians say he died in either 1224 or 1225. He was buried at Penwortham.

Thomas of Marlborough, who knew Norreis, wrote that he was "everywhere condemned as the manifest enemy of God." More modern writers agree. One historian said Norreis was "totally unsuited" to lead monks or manage a rich organization. Another historian, David Knowles, wrote that Norreis was "utterly unworthy to hold spiritual office of any kind." Knowles also said that Norreis's appointment was a "dark stain" on the archbishop's reputation. However, Knowles also noted that Norreis was "a man of great practical ability." Even Thomas of Marlborough said that Norreis was energetic, entertaining, and full of new ideas.