Monks and Monasteries of Britain

The history of Monasticism in the British Isles is a good microcosm of the history of Western
Monasticism, and many of its saints and Abbeys are familiar to English speaking students. The
rise of monasticism in Britain, in all its various forms, parallel the monastic movements that were
occurring throughout all of Europe. The major periods of monastic influence are as follows:

 400-600 — Celtic Monasticism thrives throughout Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Brittany.
 600-800 — Benedictines convert Anglo-Saxons kingdoms, unite with Celtic Church.
 800-1000 — British monasteries suffer from Viking raids, but ultimately convert the invaders.
 1000-1200 — Norman kings seek to control monasteries for political purposes.
 1100-1400 — Reformed monastic orders (Cistercians, Carthusians) revitalize Britain.

The Church in Britain after the Fall of Rome

St. Patrick converted Ireland in about 430 A.D. at the same time that the Western Roman
Empire was collapsing in Britain, France, and Italy. During the next 200 years, Saxon and Angle
chieftains from pagan Germany gained control of
most populated and developed regions of Britain
(later known as England), and drove the native
Roman-Celtic peoples to the West. The Celtic
Church, therefore, consisted not only of Ireland,
but also thrived throughout the formerly Roman-
Celtic regions of Britain and western France.

As this map of 6th century map Britain shows,

much of Britain, including Scotland, Wales,
Cornwall, Northumbria, remained Celtic. The
Celtic Church thrived in these areas, even during
the historically murky years of the 'Dark Ages'. It
held sway in the British Isles and Brittany
(Northwest France) wherever the Gaelic
language was spoken and its roots went back to
Roman-era Christian communities. St. Patrick
himself was born in western Britain, and was
ordained by Germanus of Auxerre, a leading
bishop of Gaul.

Because travel throughout Europe was difficult and dangerous in the years after the fall of
Rome, by the 7th century, there were significant differences in practice between the Celtic
churches of the British Isles and the Roman Church. But these differences were not doctrinal
and mostly related to local customs and practices. For example, the Celtic Church used a
different method of calculating the date of Easter, and was governed in a more decentralized
manner than the Roman Church. It also observed different laws regarding inheritance and
'illegitimacy', a different system of penance, and more extreme monastic traditions than those
proscribed by the 'Rule of Benedict'. These differences were mostly resolved by the late 7th
century however, and the Celtic and Roman traditions of Christianity in Britain eventually
became unified.
 Celtic Monasteries
Differences between Celtic and Benedictine monasticism were significant. Celtic monasticism
was established before the 'Rule of Benedict' was accepted as a standard for western
monasteries. In Ireland groups of monks did not always have a central monastery, but traveled
from village to village as missionaries, saying mass, offering the sacraments, and seeing to the
spiritual needs of the people. Some Celtic monasteries had a reputation for harsh penances and
mortifications, exactly the kind discouraged by Benedict, while others had a reputation for great
classical learning. During the critical 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries, however, while much of Europe
was in turmoil, the Irish monks preserved the faith, maintained essential doctrines, and ardently
preached the faith throughout Gaelic speaking Britain.

Celtic Saints of the British Isles

Patrick (d. 450) British Christian who spent years as a slave in Ireland. Escaped to
France, became a priest then returned to Ireland as a missionary.
Brigid of Kildare (d. 525) Abbess and founder of convents throughout Ireland,
including Monastery of Kildare. Patron Saint of Ireland
Finian of Clonard (d. 550) Founded the Abbey of Clonard at Meath, and sent forth the 'Twelve
Apostles of Ireland' and many other well known Celtic missionaries.
Brendan of Clonfert (d. 577) Irish missionary monk known for his legendary quest to the 'Isle of
the Blessed'.
Gildas (d. 570) Scottish scholar monk. Wrote 'On the Ruin and conquest of Britain'
regarding Saxon invasion of Briton. Founded a monastery in Britany.
Columba of Iona (d. 597) Irish abbot and missionary who lead an early mission to the Picts of
Scotland and founded an Abbey on the Island of Iona.
Mungo of Glasgow (d. 590) Native of Fife in Scotland, raised by Celtic missionaries to the Picts,
founded Church in Glasgow. [a.k.a] Kertigen]
David of Wales (d. 589) Welsh missionary monk known for ascetic life style. Founded many
monasteries, including Glastonbury Abbey. Patron Saint of Wales.
Columbanus (d. 615) Irish missionary monk and scholar known for founding monasteries in
France and northern Italy.
Gall (d. 646) Disciple and companion of St. Columbus who continued his
missionary work founding monasteries in France and Switzerland.
Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) Irish missionary monk who evangelized in Northumbria, and founded
the famous Monastery at Lindisfarne.
Fiacre of Breuil (d. 670) Irish hermit who gained notoriety for his great skill with herbs. Fled to
Northern France, and founded a hospice in Brie.
Cuthbert (d. 687) Northumbrian monk and Scholar. Prior of Melrose Abbey and
Lindisfarne. Worked to reconcile Saxon and Celtic churches.

Well known Celtic Abbeys founded by Irish missionaries to Britain include:

 Iona Abbey — founded by St. Columba in 590s as a base for converting the Picts
of Scotland.
 Lindisfarne — founded by Aidan on the East coast of Northumbria in 600's
 Old Melrose — founded as a priory of Lindisfarne in Scotland in 600's
 Anglo-Saxon Benedictines
The story of the conversion of the Anglo Saxon kingdoms of Britain, beginning with the
Augustine of Canterbury and king Ethelbert of Kent, is well known. But it is important to note
that before being sent as a missionary to Britain, Augustine was the prior of a Monastery in
Rome, most of the men who accompanied him were monks, and Gregory the Great, who
inspired the mission, was the first monk Pope. From the era of Saint Gregory (600 A.D.)
missionary monks played a great role in the conversion of pagan Europe to Christianity.

Benedictine Saints of Saxon England

Augustine of Kent (d. 604) Benedictine monk who led a mission to Saxon England and
converted Aethelbert of Kent. First Archbishop of Canterbury.
Laurence of Canterbury (d. 619) Accompanied Augustine on his mission to Convert Saxon, and
followed him as Bishop of Canterbury.
Benedict Biscop (d. c. 628–90) Founded the Abbeys of Wearmouth and Jarrow in Northumbria.
Collected hundreds of books for monastery library.
Hilda of Whitby (d. 680) Abbess from Deira noble family, founded the Monastery of Whitby.
Influenced unification of Celtic and Roman Churches in Britain.
Wilfrid of York (d. 709) Founded monastery at Ripon (d. near York), Archbishop of
Canterbury, advocated Latin calendar for Easter in Whitby Synod.
Bede of Jarrow (d. 725) Monk and scholar at the monastery at Jarrow. Wrote the
"Ecclesiastical History of England", and many other great works.
Alcuin of York (d. 804) Scholar and prominent figure in Carolingian Renaissance, founded
Schools and Abbeys in France, Ended career as Abbot of Tours.
Swithun(d. 862) Saxon bishop, patron saint of Winchester Cathedral, known for
miracles and legends.
Dunstan (d. 988) Influential abbot and bishop, advisor to late Saxon kings, restored
monastic life to England and reformed the Church.
British Missionaries to Germany
Willibrord (d. 739) Missionary to Frisia, established first diocese in Utrecht
Boniface (d. 754) Led Anglo-Saxon mission to Frisia (part of Frankish kingdom) [a.k.a]
Winfrid
Sturm (d. 770) Disciple of Boniface who continued his work, founded Monastery of
Fulda in Hesse in 742

Well known English Abbeys founded by Anglo-Saxon Benedictine Orders include:

 St. Augustines Abbey — Founded by St. Augustine in 604

 Wearmouth-Jarrow Abbey — Founded by 674 by Benedict Biscop
 Croyland Abbey — founded by Gulthlac in 700.
 Glastonbury Abbey — Founded in 712, became wealthy during Norman era.
 Malmesbury Abbey — Founded in 676 by Aldhelm, 2nd largest library in Europe.
 Bath Abby Convent — became a monastery in 781 under Saxon King Offa
 St. Albans — 793 Founded by Offa II of Mercia
 Westminster Abbey — Built by Edward the Confessor in 1042 on sight of St.
Peter's Abbey (established by Dunstan in 900)
 English Monasteries during Norman/Plantagenet Era
The Normans contributed much to the monasteries of Britain, and made some of them very
wealthy, but they emphasized political loyalty rather than pious works. During the Norman
Plantagenet era, kings and nobles felt free to appoint their relatives and retainers and bishops
and abbots regardless of their spiritual suitability for the job. The conflicts between the Norman
Kings and St. Anselm, and between Henry II and Thomas Becket, were typical of those of the
“investiture controversy” of the 12th century that led to reform of the Monasteries throughout
Europe and the rise of the Cluniacs, Cistercians, and Carthusians orders.

Monks of Norman and Plantagenet England

Lanfranc (d. 1089) Prior of Bec Abbey, appointed by William the Conqueror to serve as
Archbishop of Canterbury after the Conquest.
Anslem (d. 1109) Abbot of Bec Abbey and founder of scholasticism. Made Archbishop
of Canterbury, and stood for rights of Church against Norman kings.
Thomas Becket (d. 1120) Trusted minister of Henry Plantagenet, made Archbishop of
Canterbury, but defended rights of the Church and was martyred.
Stephen Harding (d. 1134) One of the founders of the Cistercian order, who established several
Cistercian monasteries in England.
Hugh of Lincoln (d. 1200) Early leader of Carthusian order, founded first Charterhouse in
England with help of Henry II, and become bishop of Lincoln.
Simon Stock (d. 1265) Early leader of the Carmelite order in England, who initiated use of
the Brown Scapular after BVM appeared to him.
Richard of Chichester (d. 1253) Upright bishop of West Sussex, who lived an ascetic life, defended
the Church and showed favor to the Dominican Order.
Eilmer of Malmesbury (d. 1090) Monk known for his attempts at flight from Abbey tower using a
glider based on study of a bird's wings.
William of Malmesbury (d. 1153) Foremost scholar and historian of the Norman era. Wrote both
political and ecclesiastic history of England covering 450-1120.
Matthew Paris (d. 1259) Chronicler and illuminator of St. Alban's Abbey, famed for his clever
illustrations, colorful histories, and insightful commentaries.

NORMAN ABBEYS

 Canterbury Priory — Monastery associated with Canterbury.

 St. Albans Abbey — Built by nephew of Lanfranc.
 Bec Abbey — Founded in Normandy by St. Herluin. Home of Lanfranc & Anselm.
 Lanfranc later founded St. Etienne (French for St. Stephen) Abbey in Normandy.
 Battle Abbey — Built in 1066 on the sight of battle of Hastings by Normans.
 St. Mary's Abbey in York — Established by Normans and became very wealthy.
 Reading Abbey founded by Norman king Henry II in 1121

By the time of the reformation there were approximately

 35 Cluniac Priories established in Britain

 85 Cistercian Abbeys in England, 12 Cistercian Abbeys in Ireland
 10 Charterhouses in England, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Scotland