Wilberfoss Priory facts for kids

Wilberfoss Priory was a special kind of monastery called a priory. It was located in a place called the East Riding of Yorkshire, in England.

Wilberfoss Priory was home to a group of Benedictine nuns. Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to God, often living together in a community. The Benedictine order follows rules set by Saint Benedict, focusing on prayer, study, and work.

What Was Wilberfoss Priory?

A priory is like a smaller version of a monastery. It's a place where monks or nuns live together, following religious rules. Wilberfoss Priory was specifically for nuns. They spent their days in prayer, study, and various tasks to support their community.

How It Started

The priory was founded a very long time ago, even before the year 1153! Two important people helped to start it: Alan de Cotton and Jordan fitz Gilbert. Alan de Cotton gave land and buildings for the nuns to use. Jordan fitz Gilbert gave the church and some more land. Their gifts were officially approved by Henry Murdac, who was the Archbishop of York at the time.

Life at the Priory

Life for the nuns at Wilberfoss Priory involved a lot of prayer and quiet living. They would have followed a daily routine of religious services and work. However, the priory didn't have a lot of money. By the year 1397, their income was so low that it was hard for the nuns to even get enough food and supplies.

The Priory Closes Down

Many years later, in the 1500s, a big change happened in England. King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries and priories across the country. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Wilberfoss Priory was closed on August 20, 1539. The leader of the nuns, called the prioress, was Elizabeth Lorde. She officially gave up the priory. After it closed, the land and buildings were given to her brother-in-law, a man named George Gale, around 1543. George Gale was a Member of Parliament, meaning he was involved in the government.

When the priory closed, its yearly value was about £26. 10s. 8d. This might not sound like much today, but in 2017 money, it would be worth around £23,629.77!

What Remains Today

Today, the local church in the village of Wilberfoss is called St John's Church. It's thought that this church might actually be the nave (the main part) of the old priory church. In 1967, St John's Church was given a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.