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.

Destruction
Destruction
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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 the 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.
Revival
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.

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 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 the 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 Norman 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.

 
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