Destruction and Revival
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.
| Yr | Events |
| 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 | Vikings 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. |
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.
| Yr/Age | Events |
| 943/18 | Dunstan and Glastonbury
Dunstan moved to Glastonbury where he placed the monastery under the rule of the Benedictine Order and became the abbot there. |
| 956/31 | 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. |
| 959/34 | Edgar becomes King of England (Oct 1)
At the death of Eadwig, Edgar became King of England. He appointed Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| 960/35 | Dunstan becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
Dunstan became Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| 964/39 | 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. |
| 972/47 | 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. |
| 975/50 | 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. |
| 983/58 | 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. As they had done back in Normandy, the Normans started building new monasteries all 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.
