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TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emporers of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and bailey Castles Square Keeps Castle of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Etal Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Glossary of Terms
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author

New Foundations

907

Romsey Abbey

According to medieval accounts the abbey for nuns was founded at Romsey by Edward the Elder in this year.

910

Abbey of Cluny

The abbey of Cluny was founded by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (d.918). The abbry became founding member of a new Order of Monks known as the Cluniacs. All of Cluny's daughter houses sent money back to the abbey and it became very rich.

964

Benedictines at Winchester

At the bidding of St. Dunstan Benedictine monks moved from the Abbey of Abingdon to Winchester. Work began on a new Saxon church on the site.

972

Consecration of Peterborough Abbey

Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Oswald, the Archbishop of York, consecrated the abbey at Peterborough in the presence of King Edgar

983

Monastery at Worcester

Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery at Worcester dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Oswald became bishop of Worcester upon the recommendation of Dunstan.

999

Durham Cathedral

Bishop Aldhun, the first Bishop of Durham, consecrated a cathedral at the location where the remains of St. Cuthbert had been relocated to. The remains were at Lindisfarne and were moved because of the danger of Viking raids.

1040

Much Wenlock

Earl Leofric builds a new Minster on the site of older religious buildings at Much Wenlock.

1048

Monastery at Gloucester

Aldred, bishop of Worcester refounded a monastery at Gloucester. A monastery had already been founded at Gloucester in 681 by Ostric.

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  3. Destruction and Revival
Destruction
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Destruction and Revival

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Destruction by the Danes

series of Viking raids beginning in 802 resulted in the destruction of the monastery at Iona and the murder of many of the people there. The Vikings repeatedly invaded Britain looting the churches and monasteries for their riches and killing the monks. Monastic life in Britain almost completely died out during the period of the Viking raids and it wasn't until the end of Alfred the Great's reign that things began to improve.

802

Vikings raid Iona

The monastic community founded by St. Columba on the tiny island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland was attacked by the Vikings. The Vikings returned in 806 killing over sixty of the people living there.

807

Vikings raid island of Inishmurray

The monastic community on the tiny and remote island off the north west coast of Ireland was attacked by the Vikings.

814

Viking attacks

The monastery on the island of Noirmoutier just to the south of the River Loire's mouth was attacked.

870

Crowland Abbey destroyed

Danes attack Crowland Abbey and burn it down.

Revival

Archbishop Dunstan

During the reign of King Edgar (944-975) Dunstan the Archbishop of Canterbury, a Benedictine monk himself, restarted the population of the monasteries. Situated mainly in the south of England these new monasteries included Glastonbury, Ely, Christ Church and Bury St. Edmunds. The new monasteries followed the Rule of St. Benedict.

A timeline of key events in the life of Dunstan. Showing date and Dunstan's age.

943 (Age 18)

Dunstan and Glastonbury

Dunstan moved to Glastonbury where he placed the monastery under the rule of the Benedictine Order and became the abbot there.

956 (Age 31)

Dunstan sent into exile

Eadwig sent Dunstan into exile. The reason for this is that Dunstan had caught Eadwig and Aelgifu together before they were married and at a time when Eadwig should have attended an important meeting. Dunstan must have upset Eadwig at this point and was sent into exile.

959 (Age 34)

Edgar becomes King of England (Oct 1)

At the death of Eadwig, Edgar became King of England. He appointed Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury.

960 (Age 35)

Dunstan becomes Archbishop of Canterbury

Dunstan became Archbishop of Canterbury.

964 (Age 39)

Benedictines at Winchester

At the bidding of St. Dunstan Benedictine monks moved from the Abbey of Abingdon to Winchester. Work began on a new Saxon church on the site.

972 (Age 47)

Consecration of Peterborough Abbey

Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Oswald, the Archbishop of York, consecrated the abbey at Peterborough in the presence of King Edgar.

975 (Age 50)

Edward becomes king (July)

Edward, the eldest son of Edgar, became King of the English at the age of fourteen when his father died. Dunstan became his guardian.

983 (Age 58)

Monastery at Worcester

Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery at Worcester dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Oswald became bishop of Worcester upon the recommendation of Dunstan

William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror brought many followers with him from Normandy including religious people and church builders. The new king wanted to show his gratitude to God for his successful conquest of England, and the Saxon monasteries may not have been following the strict rule of St. Benedict as he would have expected. As they had done back in Normandy, the Normans started building new monasteries and they became loyal to William. The old Saxon buildings were demolished and work began on new modern churches. William held a Benedictine monk called Lanfranc in high regard and he was elevated to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury.

Across Europe many monasteries were founded during the period of the First Crusade.

New Foundations

907

Romsey Abbey

According to medieval accounts the abbey for nuns was founded at Romsey by Edward the Elder in this year.

910

Abbey of Cluny

The abbey of Cluny was founded by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (d.918). The abbry became founding member of a new Order of Monks known as the Cluniacs. All of Cluny's daughter houses sent money back to the abbey and it became very rich.

964

Benedictines at Winchester

At the bidding of St. Dunstan Benedictine monks moved from the Abbey of Abingdon to Winchester. Work began on a new Saxon church on the site.

972

Consecration of Peterborough Abbey

Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Oswald, the Archbishop of York, consecrated the abbey at Peterborough in the presence of King Edgar

983

Monastery at Worcester

Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery at Worcester dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Oswald became bishop of Worcester upon the recommendation of Dunstan.

999

Durham Cathedral

Bishop Aldhun, the first Bishop of Durham, consecrated a cathedral at the location where the remains of St. Cuthbert had been relocated to. The remains were at Lindisfarne and were moved because of the danger of Viking raids.

1040

Much Wenlock

Earl Leofric builds a new Minster on the site of older religious buildings at Much Wenlock.

1048

Monastery at Gloucester

Aldred, bishop of Worcester refounded a monastery at Gloucester. A monastery had already been founded at Gloucester in 681 by Ostric.

 

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