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Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.
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Religious
King Oswy of Northumbria was a follower of Celtic Christianity. When he married the daughter of King Edwin she brought with her the Roman Chistian tradition. The conflicts between the two traditions led to a meeting at Whitby where a new monastery had been recently founded. After several days of discussion the King chose to adopt the Roman traditions. The meeting is known as the Synod of Whitby.
Theodore of Tarsus arrived in England to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Under Theodore's leadship the structure of the English Church was changed. Lands were donated and new dioceses were created. Before this time bishops had a monastery but had no defined areas of their own and were missionaries. It was at around this time that the rule of St. Benedict was introduced into the country.
A bishop called Benedict Biscop, originally coming from Northumbria, had accompanied Theodore of Canterbury from Rome. Under Biscop's guidance the twin monasteries at Wearmouth and Jarrow for monks and nuns was founded. The monasteries became an important centre for learning and Biscop made several journeys to Rome to bring back books for the libraries at his monasteries. One of Biscop's pupils was Bede who was one of the most important scholars of his time. Bede wrote the Ecclesiastical History of the English People. This work detailed the history of the Anglo-Saxon people and has given us an understanding of the times that he lived in.
Charlemagne was acclaimed as Roman Emperor in St Peter's in Rome by Pope Leo III.
Alcuin of York died at the monastery of St. Martin's at Tours.
The monastery on the island of Noirmoutier just to the south of the River Loire's mouth was attacked.
The monk Ansgar accompanied Harold of Norway to Scandinavia to spread Christianity into the region. King Harold had recently been converted to Christianity.
Alfred is sent to Rome by his father to see Pope Leo IV.
Ethelwulf and Alfred visit Rome to see Pope Leo IV.
Alfred the Great (871 - 899)
Three Irish pilgrims arrived at King Alfred's court after sailing from Ireland in a boat without a rudder. The boat landed in Cornwall.
Edward the Elder (899 - 924)
According to medieval accounts the abbey for nuns was founded at Romsey by Edward the Elder in this year.
The abbey of Cluny was founded by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (d.918). The abbey became the 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.
Aethelstan (924 - 939)
To help consolidate his links to the North Athelstan married his sister to Sihtric, the Norse King of York.
The abbey church at St. Albans was attacked and damaged by Vikings.
Edmund (939 - 946)
Dunstan moved to Glastonbury where he placed the monastery under the rule of the Benedictine Order and became the abbot there.
Eadred (946 - 959)
Eadred destroys the monastery at Ripon.
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 been attending an important meeting. Dunstan must have upset Eadwig at this point and was sent into exile.
Edgar (959 - 975)
Aefsige became Archbishop of Canterbury.
Beorhthelm became Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dunstan became Archbishop of Canterbury.
The church of St. Paul's built by Ethelbert burnt down this year.
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.
Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Oswald, the Archbishop of York, consecrated the abbey at Peterborough in the presence of King Edgar.
King Edgar was crowned at Bath Abbey.
Aethelred the Unready (978 - 1016)
Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery at Worcester dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Oswald became bishop of Worcester upon the recommendation of Dunstan.
Athelgar became the Archbishop of Canterbury after the death of Dunstan.
Sigeric Serio becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.
Through the Winter months Aethelred provided the Vikings with lodgings and pound16,000 in cash to stop the raids on his land. Aethelred was also the sponsor at the baptism of Olaf Trygvasson. Olaf was given instruction from the Bishop of Winchester.
Aelfric becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.
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.
Aethelred paid the Vikings a sum of pound24,000 to try and stop further invasions. In an attempt to strengthen his position against the Vikings he married Emma, the daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy. Aethelred also ordered the murder of all Danes in England but some escaped to report back. Not surprisingly the Viking attacks started again.
Edward the Confessor is thought to have been born sometime between 1003 and 1005 at Islip in Oxfordshire. His father was Aethelred II, the Unready, and his mother was Emma of Normandy, daughter of Robert I, Earl of Normandy.
Aelfheah becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.
The unstable sixth Caliph of Egypt, Al-Hakim, ordered the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of pound48,000. In a drunken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks.
Lyfing becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.
Canute (1016 - 1035)
Canute married Emma, the widow of Aethelred the Unready. This helped Canute secure ties with Normandy as Emma was the daughter of Count of Normandy.
Aethelnoth became Archbishop of Canterbury.
King Canute visited Glastonbury Abbey to grant the abbey gifts and privileges. He also knelt at the altar and prayed.
Harold Harefoot (1035 - 1040)
Archbishop Aelfric canonised John of York, responsible for founding the monastery at Beverley, as St. John of Beverley.
Eadsige became Archbishop of Canterbury after the death of Aethelnoth.
Harthacnut (1040 - 1042)
Earl Leofric builds a new Minster on the site of older religious buildings at Much Wenlock.
Edward the Confessor (1042 - 1066)
Shortly after Edward the Confessor became King, Stigand was promoted to the position of bishop.
Edward married Edith, the daughter of Earl Godwine. Godwine was then in an extremely powerful position being related to the King of England.
Stigand was promoted to the position of Bishop at Winchester.
Aldred, bishop of Worcester refounded a monastery at Gloucester. A monastery had already been founded at Gloucester in 681 by Ostric.
Reigned for less than a month.
Macbeth took time to travel to Rome on a pilgrimage. Reports of his visit tell of him distributing large amounts of money.
Edward appointed the French abbot Robert of Jumieges to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury.
The See of Devon and Cornwall had been located at Crediton in Devon but in 1050 Edward the Confessor moved the See to Exeter. This moved the cathedral from an obscure location to a more important one. Edward gave the new Bishopric to Leofric.
Queen Emma died at Winchester.
Stigand, the Bishop of Winchester, mediated in the conflicts between the Godwines and Edward the Confessor. The Norman Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert of Jumieges, fled the country with other bishops who had been appointed by Edward. Stigand assumed the title of Archbishop of Canterbury. Robert of Jumieges appealed to Pope Leo IX and Stigand was excommunicated.
In spite of objections from Pope Leo, William married Matilda, the daughter of Baldwin V, Earl of Flanders.
Although the split between the East and West Churches can not easily be put down to one event, the conflict caused in 1054 between Pope Loe IX and the patriarch of Constantinople is often thought, rightly or wrongly, as the key moment. Pope Leo IX sent a delegation to Constantinople to discuss differences which resulted in the excommunication of the patriarch by the delegation and in return the excommunication of the delegation by the patriarch.
A force of Welsh and Irish men led by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, a Welsh prince attacked and burnt the building.
Under the direction of Wulfstan, the future Bishop of Worcester, construction work began at Gloucester Cathedral. The new building was burnt down and rebuilt later by Abbot Serlo.
Wulfstan, a monk at Worcester Cathedral from 1040, was recommended for the position of bishop by visiting papal legates.
Edward the Confessor took lands from Pershore Abbey and allocated them to his new Abbey church at Westminster.
Work on the Abbey at Westminster was either complete or very nearly so at its dedication. Edward the Confessor who had devoted himself to creation was to die less than two weeks later.
William the Conqueror (1066 - 1087)
William the Conqueror and Matilda attended the dedication of Matilda's church, the Holy Trinity at Caen. To show their devotion they gave their daughter Cecilia to the church to be raised as a nun.
Odo,the Bishop or Bayeux, became William the Conqueror's deputy in England and was assisted by William Fitz Osbern until Osbern's death in 1071. Odo also became the Earl of Kent and his wealth and land became considerable.
Edgar the Aetheling took refuge with Malcolm III in Scotland along with his sister Margaret. Malcolm and Margaret were married in the same year.
The Abbey of Dunfermline was founded by Malcolm III, King of the Scots and his wife Margaret.
Malcolm, the Scottish king attacked towns in the north of England.
William the Conqueror placed Lanfranc in the position of Archbishop of Canterbury a move designed to strengthen his hold on the English throne. Thomas of Bayeux, a pupil of William's brother Odo, was put in the position of Archbishop of York after the death of Ealred who died on September 11th, 1069. Archbishop Stigand was imprisoned in Winchester.
As part of a revolt against the new Norman invaders, Hereward the Wake sacked the abbey at Peterborough.
Canterbury Cathedral was rebuilt at this time by Archbishop Lanfranc. The Cathedral was based on the design of his abbey in Caen.
Serlo, William the Conqueror's chaplain, revived the floundering monastery at Gloucester and started major rebuilding work. Serlo died in 1104.
The first cathedral at Old Sarum was built between 1075 and 1092. Its builder was Bishop Osmund, who was supposed to be William the Conqueror's nephew. From 1072 until 1078, Osmund was William's Chancellor and in 1078 Osmund was given the title of Bishop of Salisbury.
The Norman Bishop of Fecamp began work on the first Cathedral church at Lincoln. The bishop's see had been moved from Dorchester-on-Thames.
Lanfranc held a Church council at Winchester where the reorganisation of Bishops and Bishoprics was confirmed. Canterbury was also confirmed as the head of the English Church rather than York.
Chichester was made a bishopric in this year when the bishop moved there from Selsey.
At the Council of London Archbishop Lanfranc instigated the movement of many English Bishoprics to more important locations. One of these was the Bishopric of Sherborne and Wilton which moved to Old Sarum.
Even though incomplete, Battle Abbey is consecrated.
Gundulf became Bishop of Rochester, remaining there for thirty years and where he is buried.
Work on Rochester Cathedral began. (More Information to follow)
Work began on St. Albans Cathedral. (More Information to follow)
The Bayeux Tapestry is first shown at the dedication of Odo's cathedral.
Osmond was a Norman who came to England with William the Conqueror. He exchanged his noble title for that of a religious one and became Bishop at Old Sarum after Herbert. Osmond continued the construction work of a new cathedral at Old Sarum.
The two bishoprics of East Anglia and Dunwich (Suffolk) were merged into one and moved to Thetford which was an important town at the time and was in a central location.
Construction work began on the crypt and transepts of Winchester Cathedral. This continued until 1093.
Ripon monastery destroyed by Normans.
Robert de Losinga, a Norman Bishop started work on a new Cathedral at Hereford.
William the Conqueror visited South Wales and St. David's. He met Rhys ap Tewdwr, the ruler of the area and allowed him to remain in control of the region for a yearly sum of money.
1083
William imprisoned his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux.
Work began on Ely Cathedral
Building work starts on Worcester Cathedral. Orchestrated by Bishop Wulfstan. (More Information to follow)
The abbot of Monte Cassino, a man called Desiderius, was elected Pope a year after the death of the previous pope Gregory VII. His reign was not to last long as he retired to his abbey at Monte Cassino with ill health and died in September of 1087.
William Rufus (1087 - 1100)
The Priory was founded by William de Warrene a Norman follower of William the Conqueror.
Work on rebuilding St. Paul's Cathedral started after the Old St. Paul's burnt down and a good deal of London as well. The person in charge of the rebuilding work was Mauritius, chaplain to William the Conqueror and Bishop of London. The new Cathedral was reportedly extremely large.
William Rufus gave the Manor of Tewkesbury to his cousin, Robert FitzHamon. Together with the patronage of the Priory of Tewkesbury.
Bath Abbey is founded by John de Villula and populated by Benedictine monks.
Urban II was elected Pope in 1088. His real name was Odo of Lagery and chose the name Urban when he became Pope. He had at first been a monk at the abbey at Cluny from 1070 and had become a prior there.
Some seventeen years after taking his position at Gloucester, Serlo built the crypt.
After the death of Archbishop Lanfranc William Rufus held open the post of Archbishop of Canterbury for four years taking the revenues for his own purposes.
The cathedral at Old Sarum was completed and dedicated to Blessed Virgin. The cathedral was damaged by a storm only five days after the dedication service and the roof destroyed. The location of the cathedral meant it exposed to the wind and the sermons were sometimes drowned out by the sound.
A collegiate church was founded at this time at Carlisle and a Norman church was built.
Secular canons founded a collegiate church at Carlisle.
Work began on the nave and the southern transept.
Chester was a strategic site after the Norman Conquest and the Saxon church there was taken over in 1093 by Benedictine monks.
Durham Cathedral was the first building in Western Europe with ribbed vaulting in the ceiling.
Anselm became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093 succeeding Lanfranc. The post of Archbishop of Canterbury had been held open by William Rufus so that he could collect for himself the church's income. Anselm died in 1109.
William fell ill early in this year and the illness was so serious that reports went out saying that he had died. William granted land to many religious houses in preparation for his death but when he recovered he claimed the land back.
Margaret of Scotland died only days after her son and husband had been killed at Alnwick.
Building work at Battle Abbey was completed and the abbey reconsecrated by William Rufus.
Herbert de Losinga purchased the see (seat of the bishop) for the area around Norwich. The bishops seat was at Thetford but Herbert moved it to Norwich itself before starting the construction of a new cathedral.
Hugh 'Lupus' d'Avaranches, the first Earl of Chester, founded a monastery at Chester. Later to become Chester Cathedral.
Wulfstan was bishop of Worcester. The location of his grave is not known.
At the Council of Piacenza a delegation visited Pope Urban II led by the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to raise the problems he was having fighting the Muslims in the East. Pope Urban removed the excommunication that had been placed on the Emperor by Pope Gregory and promised to help.
On the last day of the Council or Clemont Pope Urban II preached about the oppression being inflicted on the Christians in the Middle East by the Muslim Seljuks. Christian churches were being destroyed and Christians attacked. The Pope called for the Christians in the West to help.
Work starts on Norwich Cathedral.
Canterbury Choir, East Transepts and Crypt building work.
Following Pope Urban's speech at Clermont Peter the Hermit, a simple man with a powerful ability to move people by his words, started preaching for Christians to help their fellow Christians in the East. He started to gain a large number of followers eager to go to Jerusalem with promises of absolution and freedom from a life of hunger and depravation. His followers were poor, not prepared for the journey and not armed.
At Constantinople the Emperor Alexius welcomed Peter's army but there were too many people and no provision had been made for them. There was a general lack of discipline that resulted in repeated attacks and thefts from surrounding villages. Alexius warned Peter to wait for better trained troops to arrive before moving on but the pressure of the army was so great on Constantinople that they were forced to move before help could arrive.
While the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit was being crushed in the Holy Land, preparations for the First Crusade carried on in Europe. Those leaders involved were Raymond of Toulouse, Hughes Count of Vermandois, Robert Count of Flanders, Robert Duke of Normandy and Etienne Count of Blois. The leaders arranged to meet at Constantinople and set off taking different routes. Some followed the path across Europe taken by Peter the Hermit, while others took a more southerly routes via the Alps and the Adriatic.
Conflicts between Archbishop Anselm and William Rufus resulted in the Archbishop leaving England and heading for Rome. William confiscated Anselm's land.
When the crusaders arrived at Constantinople they were greeted by Emperor Alexius. The Emperor was happy for the crusaders to capture areas of the Holy Land but he wanted the land to be under his control. Alexius persuaded the Leaders of the crusaders to swear an oath of allegiance to him and to hand over the land they captured. They could however be allowed to live on and rule that land but not own it.
The abbey of Citeaux in Burgundy was founded by Robert of Mosleme. The abbey did not prosper until around 1113 when Stephen Harding became abbot and a couple of years later St. Bernard became the abbot of Clairvaux its daughter house. The abbey of Citeaux was the start of the massively important Cistercian Order.
Construction of the nave at Durham Cathedral began in 1099 and lasted until 1128.
Ranulf Flambard is made the Bishop of Durham by William Rufus.
Henry I (1100 - 1135)
Henry I had no quarrels with Anselm, the exiled archbishop, and invited him to return from exile and take back his position at Canterbury.
The abbey church at Gloucester built by Abbot Serlo was dedicated by Samson the Bishop of Worcester, Gundulph the Bishop of Rochester and Harvey Bishop of Bangor.
William Rufus was buried under the tower of Winchester Cathedral. The tower fell down either in 1101 or 1107. The cause was blamed on the wickedness of the King's bones but was probably due to poor construction or uncertain foundations.
Disagreements began to arise between Henry I and Archbishop Anselm over the appointment of bishops and abbots into important Church positions. Anselm believed that it was a matter for the Church to decide and should not be controlled by the King. No concession could be agreed upon and once again Anselm went into exile as the King confiscated the lands that the archbishop owned.
Under threat of excommunication Henry I met Archbishop Anselm at Laigle in Normandy to settle the disputes that had led to the Archbishop's exile from England. An agreement was reached and Aneslm returned to england in the following year.
In 1106 or 1107 at Ely Cathedral the remains of saint Etheldreda were moved into the newly built presbytery. This was done on the saint's day, October 17th.
1107
Robert FitzHamon died of his injuries at Falaise in Normandy. His son-in-law Robert Fitzroy succeeded to the Manor of Tewkesbury and continued the building the Abbey at Tewkesbury.
At Llandaff in South Wales bishop Urban began the construction of a new church on the site of a much older religious site.
Work began on the nave and transepts of Southwell Cathedral and work continued until 1150.
Gundulf's thirty year career of magnificent castle and cathedral design and construction came to an end with his death. His plans for the reconstruction of Rochester Cathedral were left incomplete. It was not until 1115 that construction work was to resume under the direction of Ernulf.
Construction work began on the tower of Winchester Cathedral and building continued until 1120.
The church at Ely became a Cathedral when it became the seat of the bishopric (or Diocese) of the area. Hervey who had been abbot at Ely was made its first Bishop by King Henry I.
Archbishop Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, died.
Situated a few miles to the north east of Shrewsbury, an Augustinian priory called Haughmond Abbey was founded by William, a Lord of Clun.
Neath Abbey in south Wales was founded by Richard de Granville. Originally part of the Savigniac Order.
Robert was the son Walter, the 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie Bruce the daughter of Robert I, King of the Scots. Robert was born in 1316. Because it was thought that Robert I would die without an male heir it was decided that his daughter's son, Robert, should become king if circumstances did not change. Circumstances did change with the birth of a boy to Robert I's second wife Elizabeth. The boy became David II, king of Scotland after the death of Robert I. It was not until the death of David II in 1371 that Robert, at the age of fifty-five, became King of Scotland. Robert had many children, possibly twenty or more. The marriage to his first wife, Elizabeth Mure, was considered invalid as they were closely related but his second marriage to Euphemia Ross, was declared legal. The problems other the legitimacy of his children would prove to be a source of dispute for his descendants. Robert died at the age of seventy-four and was succeeded by his son John, Earl of Carrick, who took the name Robert III.
The second Norman bishop at Exeter, Warelwast started the construction of a new cathedral because he was not happy with the current building.
Bernard at the age of 22, his brothers and several Burgundian nobles reached the monastery at Citeaux. As there had not been any new novices for some years, Stephen Harding, the abbot, accepted them willingly.
A Papal Bull (a formal proclamation issued by the pope) recognised and named the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem as an independent religious order.
The city of Worcester, its cathedral and castle were damaged by an accidental fire.
The Count of Champagne was preparing to travel to the Holy Land when he received a letter from the bishop of Chartres. The letter stated that the count was planning to join 'la milice du Christ' (the original name for the Templars ?). This seems to indicate that the order existed at this time, as the letter speaks of chastity, something not usually expected of a Crusader.
Chichester Cathedral suffered a disastrous fire in this year.
Matilda, the daughter of Henry I is married to Emperor Henry V.
The Cistercian abbey of Clairvaux was founded in 1115 by Bernard of Fontaines who became Clairvaux's abbot until his death in 1153.
The church at St. Albans was consecrated.
Construction of Rochester Cathedral's nave commenced in 1115 and was finished in around 1130.
The count of Champagne donated land to St. Bernard on which the abbey of Clairvaux was built.
An accidental fire destroys the abbey at Peterborough.
After the devastating fire of 1116 work began on rebuilding the abbey at Peterborough. The central area including choir and transept were begun first. Work continued until 1155.
Knights Templar order founded in Jerusalem, by Hughes de Payen.
The Knights Templars travelled to the Holy Lands twenty years after Jerusalem was captured by European powers.
Work began on the chapter-house of Worcester Cathedral.
The church at Llandaff was dedicated by bishop Urban to St. Peter, St. Dubricius, St. Teilo and St. Oudoceus.
Henry I founded the abbey at Reading. The Cluniac Order of monks populated the abbey.
Work on the nave and central tower at Norwich Cathedral was begun in 1121 after the choir and transept. Work finished in 1145.
Henry I married Adeliza of Louvain at Windsor Castle. Adeliza was his second wife. They did not have any children.
1122
A fire that started in the town of Gloucester spread to the Cathedral destroying treasures and all but a few books.
A priory of Austin Canons was founded in Kenilworth by Geoffrey de Clinton, the Chamberlain of King Henry I. The Priory was raised to the status of an abbey in the reign of Henry VI.
Alexander I founded this abbey on an island in the middle of the Forth river in Scotland. The Scottish king took refuge on the island in a storm and rewarded the hermit who looked after him with the foundation of a church.
Five bishops took part in the consecration of Tewkesbury Abbey.
Was Antipope for just one or two days before resigning in favour of Honorius II.
Founded by Stephen, the future King of England, Furness Abbey was built near Barrow in Furness. Initially the order was Savigniac but were later converted to Cistercians in 1147 when the orders were merged.
Henry I brought his nephew, Henry of Blois, from Normandy to take the position of abbot at Glastonbury Abbey.
The construction of new church buildings was begun in 1128 at Dunfermline Abbey. The outline of this earlier church can be seen on the floor of the current nave.
Hugh de Payens may have been granted the land for the first Temple Church in London at this time. Consisting of an orchard, a cemetery, a round church. The position was possibly at the end of Chancery Lane. The temple was moved in 1161.
Lichfield had lost the status to allow it a cathedral during the eleventh century, but in 1128 Lichfield was restored to its ancient status.
Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey was founded.
Work on the nave vaulting at Durham Cathedral took place from 1128 until 1133.
The Council of Troyes took place. Its aim was to consider the claim of the Knights Templars represented by Hughes de Payen and Andre de Montbard and was brought about by Bernard of Clairvaux. The Council provided papal approval for the Templars and resulted in many new recruits joining the order. The Order was provided it with its first rule, the Latin Rule.
On the same day that Henry I attended the consecration of Rochester Cathedral, a fire took hold in the city and damaged the newly finished building.
The construction of a new choir was started at Canterbury Cathedral in 1093 by Prior Ernulf and completed by Prior Conrad was dedicated in the presence of Henry I, David of Scotland and many English Earls.
Henry spent Christmas at Woodstock.
A minor order of monks and nuns was founded in this year by St. Gilbert. Most of the foundations were set up in the east of England as Gilbert came from Lincolnshire.
The North Welsh Cistercian Abbey was colonised by monks from the Norman house called Savigny and was possibly founded by the Earl of Chester at the time, Ranulf de Gernon.
The Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx was founded.
A Group of monks from St. Mary's in York Arrive at Ripon. They go on to found Fountains Abbey
A Cistercian abbey founded by monks from Waverley Abbey.
Ranulf, the Earl of Chester witnessed the foundation of the new Savigny abbey in the Midlands.
A small priory was built by Augustinian monks within the confines of Portchester Castle.
Construction of the Chapter house at Durham Cathedral was begun in 1133 and continued until 1140.
Colonising a new abbey at Calder was first attempted by monks from the Savigny order, but they were driven out by the Scots a few years later.
Fountains abbey was founded.
Stephen (1135 - 1154)
Buildwas Abbey was founded 1135 by Roger de Clinton. It was populated by monks from Furness Abbey.
Stephen visits Hereford Cathedral for his royal proclamation on Whitsunday. The chair reputed to have been used by Stephen still exists at Hereford.
The site of an early Benedictine abbey was taken over by the Cistercians with the permission of King Stephen. Monks from Savigny colonised the abbey.
Initially Forde Abbey was situated at Brightly in Devon, but the site proved too difficult and in 1141 it was moved to its current location 4 miles south east of Chard in Somerset. The founding Cistercian monks came from Waverly Abbey in Surrey.
Reconstruction work on the Cathedral at St. Paul's had been going on since the last major fire of 1087, and this fire again did much damage to the building.
York Minster was partially damaged by fire in this year. The near-by church of St. Mary's and some other 37 churches were also damaged.
A fire badly damages the church at Bath Abbey.
Waleran, the earl of Worcester founds a new Cistercian abbey with help from monks from Garendon.
The reign or Pope Victor IV was very short. A different person was elected antipope in 1159 but took the same name of Victor IV.
Monks of the Savigny order were attacked by the Scots under the control of David I, and were forced to return to Furness Abbey.
Theobald is elected as Archbishop of Canterbury.
A Cistercian abbey was founded by monks from Tintern Abbey. The location of the abbey altered several times in the first few years, but finally settled at Kingswood in Gloucestershire. A sixteenth-century gatehouse is all that remains.
A Papal Bull issued by Pope Innocent II, a former Cistercian monk and proteacutegeacute of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, stated that the Knight Templars should owe allegiance to no one other than the Pope himself. This meant that the Templars answered to no one not even Kings or other political or religious authorities.
A daughter house of Fountains Abbey. The initial location of the abbey proved unsuitable and the a new site was chosen near Horncastle in Lincolnshire.
Robert Fitzharding founded a monastery of Augustinian canons in Bristol.
This Cistercian abbey in Wales was colonised by monks from Clairvaux.
The construction of the abbey church of St Denis in Paris, the first Gothic Cathedral was begun in aorund 1140. Combining stained glass windows, flying buttresses, choir vaulting and rib vaults, it was a daring innovation in architecture. The specifications were set by the abbot of St Denis, Suger.
King Stephen and Matilda his wife founded Coggeshall Abbey. This was to be the last of the Savigny abbeys to be founded before the order merged with the Cistercians in 1147.
Building of original Bristol church.
The roof of the Cathedral burnt down. Bishop Alexander the Magnificent started rebuilding work.
The first Cistercians arrived in Ireland invited by St. Malachy. Their Abbey of Mellifont was the first of many.
The Savigny order of monks colonised the a new abbey at Calder in this year. The earlier attempt at colonising the location had failed after being attacked by the Scots.
David I, King of the Scots may have been involved in the foundation of this Cistercian abbey in Scotland. The founding monks probably came from Rievaulx.
A new Cistercian abbey at Revesby was founded by monks from Rievaulx in this year. The abbey was founded by William de Roumare I, earl of Lincoln and the first abbot was Ailred, who moved back to Rievaulx in 1146 to become the head of that abbey.
Boxley Abbey, run by Cistercians was founded in 1143 or 1146 by William of Ypres and was colonised by monks from Clairvaux. The Abbey is situated near Maidstone in Kent.
Cistercians found Whitland Abbey.
Initially a Savignic foundation, the abbey was taken over by the Cistercian order and responsibility for it was taken by Byland.
A colony of monks from Fountains Abbey move to set up a new Cistercian abbey at Woburn.
The first formal Papal Bull of Crusade or 'Bulla cruciata' calling on France to restore the Holy Land to Christendom was issued by Pope Eugenius III, together with 'Quantum praedecessors' which was reissued on the 1st of March 1146.
The Knights Templars adopted cross pattee a splayed red cross.
St. Bernard's sermon at Veacutezelay so moved Eleanor of Aquitaine that she vowed to go on Crusade.
At the Diet of Speyer the emperor Conrad III took the cross and secured the election of his son Henry as his successor in Germany. He was persuaded to take part in the crusade by the the Abbot of Clairvaux, St. Bernard.
Biddlesden Abbey, a new Cistercian abbey was founded in 1147 by Ernald de Bosco with monks from Garendon.
The order of Savigny became part of the larger Cistercian movement in this year. The Savigny order was having trouble running its abbeys and it was decided that a merger with the more prosperous Cistercian order was advantageous for both sides.
The Cistercian abbey of Dore, south-west of Hereford was founded in 1147 by monks from Morimond
A daughter house of Fountains Abbey, the abbey at Kirkstall was first located at Barnoldswick , but was moved a few years later to its current location near Leeds in West Yorkshire.
A Cistercian abbey in Lincolnshire founded by Nicholas Basset and colonised by monks from Waverley.
The crusaders left Regensburg to march across land to Constantinople.
King Louis VII of France and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine began their Crusade. They declared Abbot Suger regent of France,
The Augustinian Abbey at Bristol founded by Robert Fitzharding was consecrated on Easter day in the presence of the Bishops of Worcester, Exeter, St. Asaph and Llandaff.
The Augustinian Lilleshall Abbey was founded in around 1148 by Richard de Belmeis.
Work began on rebuilding the cloisters at Fountains Abbey.
This Cistercian abbey in the Midlands was founded by Richard de Camville and was a daughter house of Waverley in the south.
Work on the West front of Rochester Cathedral began in 1150.
Another Cistercian abbey helped by David I, King of the Scots. The first monks came from Melrose.
Located in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, the remains of this Cistercian abbey are in the grounds of a private house. The abbey's benefactor was Roger, Earl of Hereford and it was populated by monks from Bordesley Abbey.
Only two months after Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to Louis VII, king of France was annulled, she married Henry of Anjou - future king of England - Henry II.
Bernard, the abbot of Clairvaux, the post he had held since 1115, and one of the most important religious people in the Middle Ages died at the age of sixty-three.
Henry II (1154 - 1189)
Building of the Chapter House at Bristol started in 1154 and continued until 1164.
Under the direction of Archbishop Roger of York, Ripon Cathedral was rebuilt. Building work continued until 1180.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles are a series of historical timelines originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great. The chronicles were maintained and added to by generations of anonymous scribes until the last entry was made in 1154.
Being the superintendents of the Masons, the Knights Templars build their Temple in Fleet Street in London.
The nave of Peterborough Cathedral was the next phase of rebuilding work after the choir and transept. Work continued until 1175.
A plan to conquer Ireland was approved by Pope Adrian IV in a Papal Bull (a formal proclamation issued by the Pope) called Laudabiliter.
The king spent the festive period at Westminster Palace. Repairs must have been completed if the royal court spent time there.
It is possible that King Henry II held his Christmas court at Bordeaux in this year.
Henry held court at Lincoln in this year. It is thought St Mary's Guildhall was constructed for the purpose of the crown-wearing ceremonies held at Christmas.
Monks from Combermere founded Dieulacres Abbey in 1158 at Poulton in Cheshire, but it would later be moved.
At Easter King Henry II, and his wife Eleanor, visited Worcester Cathedral and placed their crowns on the shrine of Wulfstan, vowing not to wear them again.
Birth of Geoffrey Plantagenet.
The king held court at Cherbourg this year.
A double election took place after the death of Pope Adrian IV. In February 1160, the council of Pavia choose Victor IV, but by the summer of 1160 the English, Norman and French churches had chosen Cardinal Roland Bandinelli.
Alexander III was elected to the position of Pope after the death of Adrian IV. Alexander was supported by the English and the French, but the Germans supported and elected a second Pope known as Octavian.
The royal court spent Christrmas at Falaise this year.
Under the direction of the new Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sulley, a new church was planned for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The major construction work would last until around 1235 while minor construction would continue for another 100 years after that. The existing church was pulled down and construction work began in 1163.
Christmas festivities were held at Le Mans.
This Scottish Cistercian abbey was founded by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The monks that colonised it came from the abbey at Melrose.
Theobald of Bec, archbishop of Canterbury, died after an illness. Henry II was informed and he expressed the wish to have his friend Thomas Becket elected as archbishop.
Eleanor of Aquitaine gave birth to a daughter at Rouen. The girl was named Eleanor after he mother.
Thomas Becket was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury on June 3rd. He accepted the pallium sent by the Pope on August 10th. A pallium is a piece of clothe sent by the Pope and is woven from white lamb's wool. It is draped around the neck.
Bishop Maurice de Sulley united the two Cathedrals of Paris, St. Stephen's and the Blessed Virgin with the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral and laid the foundations of the new building that was designed by Eudes de Montreuil.
The council held at the Royal Palace of Woodstock near Oxford was the scene for a clash between Henry II and Thomas Becket over the control of payments to Sheriffs. Becket opposed the plan and was going to oppose more of Henry's reforms in the near future.
Henry II put his plans before the Council of Westminster to reform the judicial system allowing the courts power over members of the Church which had the luxury of their own courts. Thomas Becket stood against the plans starting a rift between him and Henry that would led to Becket's death.
The body of Edward the Confessor was moved to a more fitting location within the Abbey. The ceremony was attended by Henry II and Thomas Becket.
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Robert fitz Stephen, a Norman. Monks were sent from the Cistercian abbey at Whitland to populate the new monastery.
The Constitutions of Clarendon were series of statements laid down by Henry II regarding the relationship between the church and the state. One statement was the cause for the rift between Henry and Thomas Becket, that said that a member of the church who committed a crime should be available to be tried in a state court and not just a church one. Clarendon is near Salisbury.
William of Paitin, Henry II's brother, died at Rouen.
Thomas Becket consecrated the abbey at Reading on its completion in this year.
At the Council of Northampton the Welsh rebellion and the Constitution of Clarendon were discussed. The Council tried Thomas Becket and found him guilty of perjury for failure to appear at Council and heresy. Becket was sentenced to forfeiture of his possessions. The sentence was quashed by King Alexander III and Becket fled to Lincoln on the 14th and then France in early November.
Becket fled to France and sought the protection of Pope Alexander III, who himself was in exile.
The Assize of Clarendon was a series of legislative statements made by King Henry II with the aim of improving the justice process, including the jury system.
Richard de Lucy, joint Chief Justiciar in England, excommunicated by Thomas Becket.
Henry II of England, Louis VII of France and Thomas Becket met at Montmirail to hold peace talks. Becket submitted to Henry excepting only on one point, and the negotiations failed. A second meeting took place at St. Leger-en-Yvelines, and a papal ultimatum was served on Henry.
At Norwich Cathedral repair work was carried out after a major fire. The works were carried out by Bishop John de Oxford and were completed by 1197.
The Galilee porch on the West front of Durham Cathedral was built between 1170 and 1175.
The Gloucestershire abbey was moved back to Kingswood and populated by monks from Tintern.
Henry II and Thomas Becket met near Freteval in France where they came to an agreement to end their differences. This resulted in Becket's partial restoration.
King Henry II sent word to England saying that the conflict with Thomas Becket was at an end and his lands should be restored. Hearing this Becket returned to England landing on the south coast at Sandwich.
On Christmas Day Thomas Becket took to the pulpit at Canterbury Cathedral and gave his sermon. At the end of the sermon he excommunicated several of his enemies who had taken part in his earlier troubles with the King.
When Henry II heard that Thomas Becket had returned to England and was threatening to excommunicate his opponents, his outrage was such that four knights overhearing the King travelled to England and killed Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral.
Archbishop Roger began reconstruction work of a new church after the previous one had been destroyed by fire.
A group of Cistercian monks from Forde Abbey colonised a new abbey at Bindon near Wareham on the south coast of England.
King Henry II was told of the murder of Thomas Becket.
King Henry II returned to England and visited Henry of Blois, the bishop of Winchester who was dying. He also met with Lord Rhys, the important south Wales prince. A series of meetings took place during 1171 and 1172 where an agreement was reached whereby Lord Rhys could keep his land and was given the title justiciar of south Wales.
Henry of Blois died.
The Compromise of Avranches. Even though Henry II was cleared of involvement in Thomas Becket's murder, he did penance before the Cathedral at Avranches in Normandy. The compromise was a deal struck between Henry and the church over the matter of Becket's death.
At a ceremony at Winchester Cathedral Henry, the Young King, and his wife Margaret were both crowned.
Becket was canonized by Pope Alexander III. His shrine at Canterbury Cathedral became extremely wealthy due to the number of pilgrims visiting it and donating money.
Canterbury Cathedral suffered another disastrous fire and was damaged so badly that it needed almost completely rebuilding. William of Sens was given the task of constructing a new Cathedral. William was injured by a fall from scaffolding and the work was continued by William the Englishman.
Pope Alexander III consecrated Roger of Dover as the Archbishop of Canterbury and gave him the pallium.
Henry II accepted his part, even though indirect, in the killing of Thomas Becket. He was whipped by the monks of Canterbury as punishment.
Canterbury Choir building work by William of Sens.
Cistercian monks from Whitland founded the Welsh abbey of Cwmhir in this year.
Monks from the Savigniac abbey Aulnay-sur-Odon in Normandy found a new abbey in England.
After several years of moving the location of this abbey, the Cistercian monks finally settled at Byland in North Yorkshire.
King Henry II removed the existing nuns from Amesbury Abbey and replaced them nuns from the abbey of Fontevrault in France. The abbey was originally founded in 979 by Alfrida.
Canterbury Trinity Chapel and corona building work by William Englishman.
(Not the same as Pope Innocent III)
In 1177 or 1179 another fire took hold in the city of Rochester damaging the Cathedral.
Following the Capetian tradition of the French Kings, King Louis VII of France had his eldest son Philip crowned at Rheims Cathedral. Philip then became joint ruler of France.
The high altar was complete enough at Notre Dame in Paris for its dedication ceremony lead by the Papal Legate Henry and Heraclius, the patriarch of Jerusalem.
A serious fire damaged the abbey at Glastonbury resulting in the need for major rebuilding work.
Earth tremors damaged the Cathedral at Lincoln beyond repair. The earthquake must have been very powerful as it was said that it was felt throughout the country. Only the West front survived in good shape and rest of the building had to be demolished.
Plans for a Cistercian abbey in Somerset were put forward around about this time.
A Cistercian Abbey was founded by monks from Strata Florida in Wales in Conwy.
Archbishop Baldwin preached the Crusade, the spot being marked with a cross that was restored in 1897.
Chichester Cathedral suffered another disastrous fire.
The Christian Army of Jerusalem was beaten by Turkish forces at the Battle of Hattin. Guy of Lusignan was King of Jerusalem at this time. All Knights Templars and Hospitallers who survived the battle were executed afterwards. The Archbishop of Tyre, a man called Josias, was dispatched from the city to Europe to inform the Pope and European leaders of the disaster that had taken place and to ask for help.
Jerusalem fell to the Muslims and the al-Asqu mosque was returned to Islam. The Muslims allowed four Christian Priests to hold services in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was in contrast to the first Crusaders who since they first captured the city in 1099 had treated Jerusalem as theirs alone. The Muslim leader was Al-Malik al-Nasir Salad ed-Din Yusuf also known as Saladin.
When Josias, the Archbishop of Tyre, reached Rome and the Papel Court he informed Pope Urban III of the disaster at Hattin. The Pope was is poor health and the news was too much for him to bare ahd he died. Gregory VIII was elected as Pope but his reign only lasted for two months. Gregory died on 17th of December at Pisa.
Richard took the Cross. Before going on a Crusade a vow was taken and the person was given a piece of cloth in the shape of a cross to be sown onto the surcoat. To go on a Crusade meant a person was granted a plenary indulgence which freed them from the terrors of purgatory and hell if they killed the enemy and gave them the promise of eternal life in heaven.
Richard I (1189 - 1199)
The Order of the Teutonic Knights established at Acre.
John 'Lackland' married Isabella of Gloucester.
Foundation of a Cistercian abbey in south-west Scotland by the lords of Galloway.
Work on the choir and east transept as Lincoln Cathedral progressed between 1192 and 1200.
After the damaging earth tremors of 1185 Bishop Hugh of Lincoln started rebuilding work on the Cathedral at Lincoln. His new scheme was followed even after his death apart from minor alterations up to the completion of the Angel Choir in 1280.
The West front of Peterborough Cathedral was constructed between the years 1193 and 1230.
Hubert Walter follows Baldwin as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Herbert Poore presented plans to move the cathedral at Old Sarum to a new site nearer the river to be called New Sarum, or now Salisbury. Richard I approved the plan.
The Crown Wearing. Richard took part in a precession to Winchester Cathedral. The king wore a golden crown and was followed by notables from the Church and State. The previous Crown Wearing was in 1158.
Modifications to the west end of the church were undertaken under the direction of the abbot John de Cella. The plan was to add an extra three bays to the existing structure. Progress was slow due to mismanagement of the funds and when John de Cella died not much progress had been achieved. The work was completed under the direction of the next abbot, William of Trumpington.
In Paris, Maurice de Sulley died in 1196 but the building work at Notre Dame Cathedral continued under the direction of his successor Eudes de Sulley.
This Cistercian abbey in north-west Wales was colonised by monks from Cwmhir.
Monks from Revesby in Lincolnshire moved to Somerset and colonised the new abbey at Cleeve.
John (1199 - 1216)
The Order of the Teutonic Knights is approved by Pope Innocent III.
King John had been married to Isabella of Gloucester for several years but they had no children. When John became king he quickly obtained a divorce leaving himself free to arrange a marriage that would give him political gain. Within the year he would marry Isabella of Angouleme, the daughter of an important baron in Aquitaine.
Work began on the Lincoln Cathedral's main West transept, or Great transept in 1200.
Building work on eastern area of the Cathedral at Rochester began in around 1200 and continued until 1227.
The early cathedral at Rouen in France was badly damaged by a fire that destroyed other churches and parts of the city as well.
Valle Crucis Abbey in North Wales was founded in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffuud Maelor.
This Cistercian abbey in Devon was founded by William Brewer.
The Fourth Crusade.
Construction work began on the retrochoir, the area to the east of the presbytery, and the Lady Chapel of Winchester Cathedral. Work continued until 1235.
The devastating fire in this year caused so much damage that the building needed to be rebuilt.
Founded by King John who wanted to become an object of prayer by the Cistercian order. The abbey was built on the site of a hunting lodge in the New Forest and was colonised by monks directly from Citeaux.
Eleanor, Henry II's wife and John's mother died.
When Hubert Walter died a dispute began between King John and the monks of Canterbury over who should become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. King John wanted John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich, to have the position but the monks wanted their sub-prior, Reginald. The matter was delayed until December when a mission sent to Rome could consult the Pope. Reginald himself went as part of the mission and stated that he had been elected by the monks. When King John heard of this he demanded that De Gray should be elected and the monks dutifully did.
Although the monks of Canterbury wanted their own sub-prior for the post of Archbishop and King John wanted John de Gray, Pope Innocent III chose Stephen Langton. Langton was originally from Lincolnshire but after teaching in Paris had moved to Rome where he had become a Cardinal. The monks of Canterbury accepted the Pope's decision and voted Langton in as the new Archbishop. King John did not agree.
King John took the land of the Earl of Leicester (father of Simon de Montfort) and banished him from England.
Stephen Langton was chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent III.
The Pope threatened King John with the sentence of Interdict unless he accepted Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. An Interdict meant that church services would be banned in England except for baptisms and confessions.
King John visited Worcester and gave funds for the rebuilding of the Cathedral after the devastating fire.
After the nave was completed construction work commenced on the west front of Notre Dame Cathedral under the direction of Pierre de Nemours.
Peter of Castelnau, the papal legate, was murdered by heretics belonging to the Albigensains. The Albigensains were an extreme religious group based in the south of France. The Pope wanted them to cease their opposition to the Church. The murder led to the start of the Albegensian Crusade that would destroy the heretics.
With King John still refusing to accept Langton as Archbishop the Pope served the sentence of Interdict on England. In response King John confiscated church property. Many of the bishops of the great churches in the country fled abroad to the Continent.
Stephen Langton landed in England from France to see King John and take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. John refused to meet with him although John did meet Stephen's brother Simon.
The Albignsian stronghold of Beziers was besieged and when it was captured all the people within it were massacred.
King John is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III.
Rebuilding work of the eastern parts at Fountains Abbey.
The French cathedral was left beyond repair after a fire.
In Northampton the Papal legate Pandulf served King John with his excommunication ordered by the Pope. For John this was a serious blow to his ability to rule the country as it absolved the King's subjects from their oaths of allegiance, gave the Barons reason to revolt and allowed the King of France to invade England to remove John from power.
A mysterious Crusade supposed to have consisted of children from Germany and possibly France. How young the children were who took part is not known and they may not have been children at all. The Crusaders did not get very far and many of those that took part never came back. They were either killed or sold into slavery.
Taking the advice of William Marshal John accepted the demands of the Pope and that Stephen Langton should become Archbishop. A peace mission was also sent to the Pope.
King John made his first act of submission to the Pope's envoy.
When King John agreed to meet Stephen Langton at Winchester he was absolved from excommunication.
Cardinal Nicholas De Romanis arrived in England to prepare for the settlement of the Interdict. John's punishment was to pay 100,000 marks to compensate the church for the losses he had caused it.
King John appeared at St. Paul's Cathedral in a second act of submission to the Pope.
A new location for this Cistercian abbey was found near Leek in Staffordshire.
This Cistercian abbey near Peterhead in Scotland was founded by monks from Kinloss.
At St. Paul's Cathedral, in London, the Interdict was finally lifted.
Henry III (1216 - 1272)
Pope Innocent III died on July 16 and two days later in Rome the cardinals elected Honorius III as the Pope.
King John's wishes were to be buried at the church at Worcester.This was done and King John's body was placed in a tomb at the centre of the Cathedral.
Cluross Abbey, in Fife Scotland, was founded by this year by Malcolm, the Earl of Fife.
The Fifth Crusade.
The Cistercian Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was founded by William Coymn, the Earl of Buchan. It was populated with monks from Kinloss.
Building work on the Beverley Minster began in this year. The building was designed using the Gothic style and construction work continued until 1425.
Work began on the Lady Chapel at Oxford Cathedral. The chapel was incorporated into the layout of the Cathedral as an extra aisle built onto the north side of the building.
The Lady Chapel of Salisbury Cathedral appears to be the starting point of the construction of the new cathedral. Work continued until 1225.
The central tower collapsed at St. David's Cathedral destroying the presbytery resulting in construction work to repair the damage.
Lincoln Cathedral's chapter-house was constructed between 1220 and 1235.
A new site 2 miles from the original site at Old Sarum was chosen for the new Salisbury Cathedral. For a cathedral the construction work was completed in a very short time and the building was consecrated in 1258 only 38 years later.
At his coronation in Westminster Abbey, Henry was reminded of his duties at king to maintain peace, defend the rights of the crown and to dispense justice where required. Henry was only around thirteen years old. The day before the coronation Henry laid the foundation stone of a new Lady Chapel at the Abbey.
Stephen Langton returned to England and resumed the role of Archbishop of Canterbury. He performed a ceremony in Canterbury in which relics from St. Thomas Becket were put in a tomb. The 7th of July became St. Thomas of Canterbury's Day a major holy day.
1221
Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, travelled to Rome and left Hubert de Burgh in charge of affairs of the country.
At York Minster, king John's daughter Joan married Alexander II, the king of the Scots. Joan was only eleven years old at the time of the wedding.
A fire destroys part of the abbey church at Pershore.
1225
Work on the Choir at Salisbury Cathedral started in 1225 and lasted until 1237.
Building work on the South Transept of York Minster took place until 1241.
From around 1226 until 1246, construction of the Lady Chapel at Hereford Cathedral was undertaken.
Grace Dieu Abbey was founded in this year. It was a daughter house of the Cistercian abbey at Dore near Hereford. The foundation would have been earlier but the abbey was attacked and burnt by the Welsh in 1223. The abbey was situated near Monmouth, but no real remains can now be seen.
The Scottish Cistercian abbey built by monks from Melrose abbey. The abbey is situated on the shores of the Firth of Tay.
The Sixth Crusade was won with diplomacy by Frederick II, who had married the heiress of Jerusalem in 1225. He went to the East to claim his right to the throne, and taking advantage of internal disputes between the Sultan's family members, concluded the Treaty of Jaffa, which gave Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth back to the Christians.
On the death of Stephen Langton, the archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope, attempting to raise as much money from the clergy in England filled senior posts in the clergy with anyone who bidded the highest.
Work commenced on the West Front of Wells Cathedral.
Rebuilding work commenced at Rievaulx Abbey.
Building of the West Front of Wells Cathedral was begun.
Henry III donated one hundred and ten oaks from the forest of Dean to help in repair work at Gloucester church.
Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire was founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, the widow of William Longespee, the son of Henry II.
Pope Gregory IX condemned the links that both the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller had with the Assassin fighters in the Middle East. He issued a Bull, a formal proclamation issued by the pope, preventing further contact with the Assassins.
Canterbury Cloister building work.
King Henry III married Eleanor, one of four daughters of Raymond count of Provence. Eleanor was 14 years old. Simon de Montfort, as Lord High Steward, took care of the banquet and kitchen arrangements. The ceremony took place at Canterbury Cathedral.
During a sermon by one of the canons of the cathedral, the newly finished central tower collapsed burying some of the congregation.
Construction of the major transept and nave of Salisbury Cathedral was started in 1237 and lasted until 1258. Salisbury Cathedral has a smaller choir transept.
Simon de Montfort married Henry III's sister, Eleanor secretly. She had been married to William, Earl of Pembroke (son of William Marshal?), but he died early and left her with his wealth. The Barons were not happy with this arrangement as they were not consulted.
The church at Wells was dedicated in this year, but did not get its status as a Cathedral until 1244.
The Crusade of Theobald of Champagne and the King of Navarre was a French expedition that did little, except obtain concessions from Damascus in Galilee, and Ascalon from Egypt. Richard of Cornwall, the brother of Henry III, arrived after Theobald had left, but managed to strengthen both concessions in Galilee, and the fortifications at Ascalon.
In London, the central tower and the choir of St. Paul's had been rebuilt during the first part of the thirteenth century and by 1240, building work was completed. Some changes were made at the end of this century, but then no major alterations occurred until after the Reformation.
The Chapter-house at Lichfield has two storeys, the lower one for the meetings and the upper one for the library. The building is roughly octagonal in shape, but two sides are double the length of the others.
Work on the north transept of Rochester Cathedral took place between 1240 and 1255.
Celestine IV was elected as the Pope but only reigned for seventeen days before his death in November.
Building work on the North Transept of York Minster took place until 1255.
The Chapel of the Nine Altars in built on the east end of Durham Cathedral between 1242 and 1280.
During a violent storm at sea, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, vowed to build a Religious house if he survived. He did survive and as a result Hailes Abbey was built.
The Pope decreed that Wells should be reinstated as a Cathedral and the Bishop became the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
With the fall of Jerusalem and the crushing defeat of the Christian armies at Gaza, Louis IX of France took the cross and prepared for a Crusade. It took him four years to set sail.
Work on the choir, aisles and arcading began at Carlisle Cathedral and construction lasted until 1292 when a fire badly damaged the Cathedral.
Henry started the work of rebuilding Westminster Abbey as a tribute to Edward the Confessor.
Carpini, a Christian envoy travelled to the seat of the Mongol Emperor at Karakoram and another, Roubrouck followed in 1253.
Twenty monks and ten lay brothers (monks who performed manual tasks) arrived at Hailes to start work on the new Abbey.
The Cistercial abbey at Beaulieu founded earlier by King John was dedicated in the presence of King Henry III, Queen Eleanor and Prince Edward.
Henry received a relic from the patriarch of Jerusalem consisting of a portion of the blood of Christ in a crystal vase. Henry walked with the vase in his hands clothed in a course robe from the treasury in St. Paul's to the church of Westminster where mass was said. He was assisted by attendants on both sides in case he slipped and dropped the vase.
1248
At the abbey at Bath construction of the Lady Chapel took place between 1248 to 1264.
After the Christians were defeated at Gaza in 1244, King Louis IX of France took the cross. He only managed to set sail for Cyprus some four years later, landing at Damietta in June of 1249, Louis had to wait until the Nile floods had reduced before continuing for Cairo. Held up and cut off from Damietta, the French King's camp was struck with disease and most of his men were killed or captured. Louis was taken prisoner and had to pay a ransom to be freed.
The King and Queen, with Richard, Earl of Cornwall (the King's brother) were at Hailes Abbey for its dedication ceremony.
Henry III's daughter Margaret married Alexander III, king of the Scots, at York Minster. Both bride and groom were under the age of eleven at the time of the wedding. The festivities were huge as many members of the English and Scottish courts attended the wedding.
A shrine to St. Ethelreda was installed in the retrochoir of the cathedral at Ely. The ceremony was attended by Henry III and many other dignitaries.
At the age of fifteen Prince Edward traveled from Portsmouth with his mother and the Archbishop of Canterbury to marry Eleanor of Castile the half-sister of the King Alfonso X of Castile. Both Edward were Eleanor are descended from Henry II. They arrived in Burgos, the capital of Castile, in August where the marriage was due to take place.
Work began on the construction of the Angel Choir at Lincoln Cathedral in order to house the body of St. Hugh. Work was completed in 1280. The celebration of the movement of the body was attended by King Edward I, the Queen and many important figures of the time.
After the marriage at a Cistercian convent in Castile, Edward and Eleanor returned via Dover to England. Eleanor lived initially at Windsor Castle.
Sections of the Norman apses at the eastern end of the church at St. Albans were damaged during the earthquake of 1250. It was decided to knock these down and replace them with a plan based on work that had been carried out at Westminster Abbey. The work took over sixty years to complete due to periods when funds were lacking.
Work on the excellent West Front of Salisbury Cathedral began around 1258 and took until 1266.
Pope Alexander IV agreed to absolve King Henry III from the Provisions of Oxford.
Urban IV was elected Pope after the death of Pope Alexander IV.
Construction of the cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral was started in around 1263 and the work on them continued until around 1284.
Work is begun on the Lady Chapel at Chester Cathedral.
Simon's son was sent to London to raise money and troops. He diverted back through Winchester which was loyal to the king and then moved through Oxford and Northampton. Edward (I) moved from Worcester to Bridgnorth destroying bridges and means of allowing Simon who was on the Welsh side of the Avon from crossing back. The people of Bristol, friendly to Simon's cause sent ships to Newport to help Simon cross, but they were intercepted and destroyed by Edward.
Prince Edward took the cross in preparation for a Crusade from Ottobuono Fieschi, the papal legate. Ottobuono Fieschi had been sent to help both Henry and Edward sort out troubles at home and was an important factor in the country's rule from 1265 to 1268.
Henry had Edward the Confessor's remains moved from behind the alter to a newly built golden shrine within Westminster Abbey.
Sufficient parts of Westminster Abbey were completed for the monks to hold their first service in the new building. October 13th was chosen possibly to commemorate the moving of Edward the Confessor's body just over 100 hundred years earlier. King Henry III died before he could witness the completion of the whole church.
Building work begins on Tintern Abbey.
Prince Edward (I), his wife Eleanor, his cousin Henry (son of the King of the Romans) and many knights left for the Holy Land.
King Louis IX of France once again set out on Crusade, not to the east but towards Tunis. Charles, the brother of Louis, influenced the direction as Charles had plans in the East. At Cathage in July, the plague broke out and in August Louis died.
A phial containing the blood of Jesus was presented to abbey of Hailes by the son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall. The phial had been guaranteed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and had been bought from the Count of Flanders in 1267. A section of the abbey was rebuilt to hold the relic, and it was held in a purpose built shrine. A similar relic had been presented to the King Henry III several years before in 1247.
Edward I (1272 - 1307)
The Lady Chapel of the Cathedral at Peterborough was constructed between 1272 and 1286.
Henry was buried in the church of St. Peter's at Westminster (which he had rebuilt) in the former grave of Edward the Confessor whose remains Henry had moved to a golden shrine.
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Lady Devorgilla, the wife of John Balliol of Barnard Castle. Monks from Dundrennan Abbey colonised Sweetheart Abbey.
Edward met the Pope in Rome.
The foundation of this abbey in Cheshire was a result of an almost disastrous sea crossing by Edward I. His fulfilment of a vow taken during the voyage resulted in a new abbey called Vale Royal.
Robert the Bruce, the future King of Scotland, was born at Turnberry Castle, Ayreshire on the west coast of Scotland.
Seventeen days after returning from the Crusade, Edward was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
Construction of the Chapter-house at Salisbury Cathedral was begun in 1275.
Margaret, the wife of Alexander III, died in this year.
Edward I ordered the Jews to stop lending money and charging high rates of interest (usury). Instead, Edward suggested that the Jews should become farmers or learn crafts to earn a living. The Church controlled many of the trade guilds so it was impossible for the Jews to join and it was not possible for them to suddenly learn how to farm land. This led to hardship for many and some resorted to coin clipping. This meant shaving small amounts of metal from coins and melting the shavings down to sell for profit.
The church at the top of Glastonbury Tor was badly damaged by an earthquake.
Edward and his wife Eleanor of Castile laid the foundation stone of the Cistercian Abbey of Vale Royal in Cheshire.
King Edward I raised the penalty for coin clipping from banishment to execution. Many Jews were arrested in London for coin clipping and almost 300 of them were executed for the crime. The practice entailed cutting slivers of metal off coins and forging new coins from the small pieces.
This Cistercian abbey in Devon was colonised by monks from the abbey on the Isle of White. Amicia de Redvers was responsible for its foundation in memory of her husband and son who had died.
King Edward I and Queen Eleanor visited Glasonbury Abbey and ordered that the tomb of King Arthur be opened for their inspection. In a ceremony the remains were taken to the high altar and then reburied.
Rebuilding work on the South Transept and nave of Rochester Cathedral commenced in 1280.
Building work on the Chapter-house of York Minster took place until 1296.
The chapter-house at Norwich Cathedral was under construction between 1289 and 1303.
As Edward travelled with the body of his wife Eleanor from Harby near Lincoln where the Queen died to Westminster a series of crosses were later erected at each location that the body rested over night. These are known as the 'Eleanor Crosses'
Building work on the Nave and West Front of York Minster took place until 1345.
Bishop Bitton rebuilt the choir at Exeter Cathedral between 1292 and 1307.
The Cathedral is extensively damaged by fire.
Work began on rebuilding the choir, piers and east bay of the cathedral after a damaging fire
The Chapter-house and the complicated arrangement of steps leading to them were started in this year and were not completed until around 1310.
Work began on the Chapter-house of Southwell Cathedral in 1295 and continued until 1300
The cloisters at Norwich Cathedral were built between 1297 and 1318.
Pope Boniface VIII made King Louis IX of France a saint of the Church twenty seven years after his death whilst on crusade.
Edward I married Margaret, the sister of King Philippe of France, and his son, Prince Edward, married Philippe's daughter Isabella.
Boniface, the Pope, died a few weeks after being held captive by supporters of the French King over taxation disputes.
Canterbury Screen of choir and chapter house building work.
Lasting from 1305 until 1378, the Popes lived in Avignon in southern France and not in Rome.
The central tower at Lincoln Cathedral was constructed between 1306 and 1311.
The construction of the Lady Chapel at Bristol Abbey took place.
Edward II (1307 - 1327)
Edward I died at Burgh-upon-the-Sands on the Solway with Scotland in view across the Firth. Right up until his death Edward's priority was the realms that he ruled. After his death Edward's body was embalmed and transported to Waltham Abbey in Essex. Here it lay unburied for several weeks presumably so that people could come and see the body lying in state. After this the body was taken to Westminster Abbey for a proper burial.
King Philippe of France ordered the arrest of all Knight Templars in France. The order to arrest the Templars was sent out several weeks before the date possibly giving the Templars time to hide their wealth.
After lying in state for several weeks at Waltham Abbey Edward's body was moved to Westminster Abbey for burial.
At bExeter Cathedral the smaller choir transepts, rood screen and sedilia were all constructed between 1308 and 1326 under Bishop Stapledon.
A Lady Chapel was constructed at St Albans Abbey.
Work commenced on the Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral. This may have taken place been between 1320 and 1330.
A Lady Chapel was constructed at Reading Abbey.
Work on the old St. Paul's Cathedral was finally completed in this year.
Jacques de Molay and Geoffroi de Charney were burnt at the stake declaring their orthodoxy on an island on the River Seine.
Edward had delayed having the body of Gaveston buried until he had taken revenge for the murder, but because the King was powerless to act against the Ordainers, he decided to hold a lavish ceremony to bury his dead friend.
Work commenced on the central tower of Wells Cathedral. This needed strengthening and in 1338, new internal arches were added to support the weight.
The construction of a Lady Chapel at Lichfield Cathedral took place.
The construction of the Lady Chapel also known as the Trinity Chapel was begun in 1321 at Ely Cathedral. Shortly after work began the central tower fell down damaging the choir area.
The collapse of the central crossing tower of Ely Cathedral allowed the construction of the unique Octagon that took its place.
Repairs begin on Bath Abbey.
The central tower of Peterborough Cathedral was begun in 1325.
Edward III (1327 - 1377)
King Edward III married Philippa of Hainault at York Minster. The marriage was arranged as many were at the time. The arrangement was organised as early as 1323, when she was not yet nine years old. The Bishop of Exeter visited Hainault to see the girl.
Part of the Treaty of Northampton was the betrothal of David Bruce, the son of Robert King of the Scots, to King Edward's sister Joan. The two were married in the same year.
Reconstruction work, possibly on the choir, took place at Wells Cathedral.
Building work on the West Window of York Minster took place until 1338.
Edward was born at the royal manor of Woodstock.
Isabella, the daughter of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault, was born.
The octagonal vault and the lantern above if were designed and built by the master mason William Hurley at Ely Cathedral.
The tower and spire of Salisbury Cathedral were constructed between 1334 and 1380. The spire at 404ft was the tallest stone spire built in the Medieval era.
Pope John XXII died at his palace at Avignon. He was succeeded by Benedict XII.
Two cardinals, Peter Gomez and Bertrand of Montfavence, were sent by Pope Benedict XII to Europe to try and prevent Edward III of England and Philipe VI of France going to war.
The Scissor arches were added to prevent the collapse of the central tower.
Queen Philippa gave birth to another son. The child was born in Antwerp.
Under the direction of Bishop Hamo de Hythe the construction of a new central tower was begun
King Edward III of England established the Order of the Garter, the first English order of knighthood. It was based on the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur. The name of the order is supposed to have originated when Edward III picked up a garter that had been lost on the dance floor during a banquet. Edward tied the garter around his own leg telling all present not to pass judgement. The garter may have belonged to the beautiful Joan of Kent. Joan was later to marry Edward's son, the Black Prince.
Edward III founded a new Cistercian abbey near the Tower of London. Monks from Beaulieu Abbey populated the new abbey.
Innocent VI becomes Pope.
Thomas of Woodstock was born to Philippa and Edward III.
To celebrate St. George's day Edward III held a large tournament at Windsor Castle. Edward, the Black Prince, oversaw the proceedings in which kings and nobles from all over Europe were given safe passage to take part in.
Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II and the mother of Edward III died on the 22nd or 23rd of August.
Work began on the West Front of Winchester Cathedral. Extra work was carried out on the North and South aisles
Under the direction of Archbishop Thoresby the eastern end of the building was extended elongating the choir. The architectural fashion of Decorated Gothic was changing to Perpendicular Gothic as this construction work was undertaken.
Edward, the black Prince married Joan of Kent at Westminster Abbey.
Rebuilding work was begun on the nave and west cloister at Westminster Abbey. The architect in charge of the works was Henry Yevele.
A fierce storm or hurricane hit Britain and the spire at Norwich Cathedral fell. The spire damaged the presbytery as came down..
Extra work on the choir at Carlisle Cathedral was carried out between 1363 and 1395.
The Black Prince chantry in the crypt of Canterbury cathedral built by John Box.
The Black Prince organised the construction of the Chantry Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral and he expressed the wish to be buried there.
William Wynford was the architect behind the South-west tower of Wells Cathedral.
William of Wykeham became the Bishop of Winchester. Although not approved of by Pope Urban V, Wykeham was consecrated in October 1367.
Queen Philippa, Edward's wife, died. Edward's affections turned to Alice Perrers who became his mistress and had several illegitimate children.
Canterbury Crypt Lady Chapel building work by John Box.
Henry Yevele was commissioned to design a tomb for John of Gaunt and his first wife Blanche of Lancaster to be built at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Simon Sudbury becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury.
At Worcester Cathedral work progressed on the vaults of the nave and crossing, the west front, north porch and east cloister until 1395. The work was desiged by the master mason John Clyve.
Construction of the Galilee porch on the West front of Peterborough Cathedral was started in 1375.
Richard II (1377 - 1399)
Work on Perpendicular style choir and cloisters was begun at Gloucester Cathedral.
John Wycliffe was tried for heresy at the court of the bishop of London at St. Paul's. Wycliffe was supported by John of Gaunt but the trial failed to convict the religious reformer when it ended in riots and chaos.
Westminster Abbey was closed for several months after a murder took place in the Choir. The Abbey was not reopened for services until it was reconsecrated. Two knights called Schakell and Hawle had taken a Spanish Count prisoner whilst fighting with the Black Prince. As usual a ransom was required for the release of the Count. The Count was allowed to return to Spain to organise the ransom leaving his son as a hostage to ensure the ransom was paid. At this time John of Gaunt was in the process of acquiring the crown of Castile and the saga with the Count's son was an embarrassment. When the two knights refused to release their prisoner they were arrested and sent to the Tower of London. They managed to escape from the Tower and fled to Westminster Abbey and sanctuary, but this was ignored by a group of soldiers led by the Constable of the Tower, Alan Boxhall. Schakell was captured but Hawle and a monk were murdered in the Choir. Several of those involved were excommunicated meaning that they could not be buried after their deaths.
Work on rebuilding the nave and transepts of Canterbury Cathedral was started. The designer was Henry Yeveley one of the greatest architects in the late medieval period.
Again John Wycliffe was tried for heresy but this time he was supported by Joan of Kent the widow of Edward, the Black Prince. The trial ended when the citizens entered the courtroom to save him.
Canterbury Cloisters built by Henry Yevele.
Canterbury Nave and South Transept built by Henry Yevele.
William Courtenay became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
William of Wykeham founded Winchester College so that prayers could be said for his soul for all time. It also provided training for boys that were to enter his other college, New College Oxford.
A chapel dedicated to St. Thomas was constructed on London Bridge. The architect was Henry Yevele.
John Wyciffe died.
Work began on converting the Norman front and nave of Winchester Cathedral to the Perpendicular style by the Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham.
Richard II's first wife Anne of Bohemia died.
Henry Yevele designed a tomb for King Richard II and his first wife Anne of Bohemia at Westminster Abbey,
The marriage of King Richard II and the seven or eight year-old Isabella of Valois took place at Calais. Isabella was the daughter of Charles VI, King of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. Richard was near thirty years old but the marriage went ahead because it was part of a peace treaty between the English and French Kings.
A series of miniature images painted on the side of the Black Prince's tomb in Canterbury Cathedral.
Shortly after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel was exiled by Richard II because of his support for the lords appellant who had opposed the King's misrule of the country.
Henry IV (1399 - 1413)
Construction of the tower and north transept at Carlisle Cathedral was begun in 1400 and completed in 1419.
Chapter House at Canterbury building work by Stephen Lote.
Building work on the East Window of York Minster took place until 1405.
The statute called De heretico comburendo was passed by Henry IV allowing heretics to be burnt at the stake. It was forbidden for anyone to translate the Bible into English and illegal to own a copy.
William Sawtrey was a follower of John Wycliffe.
Construction work began on the north and south cloisters of Worcester Cathedral and continued until 1432.
William of Wykeham the Bishop of Winchester died in this year. He was replaced by Henry Beaufort.
Richard Scrope colluded with the Earl of Northumberland to overthrow Henry IV. Scrope was the Archbishop of York.
The Archbishop's revolt was crushed with the aid of the Nevilles and the king had him executed.
Building work on the central tower of York Minster took place until 1423.
Richard, Duke of York, was born on the 21st of September. His father was Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and his mother was Anne Mortimer.
Joan is born at Domremy.
Henry V (1413 - 1422)
As the leader of the Lollards, the friend of the King was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.
In an act of respect to Richard II, Henry had the dead king's body moved to its proper resting place in Westminster Abbey.
Alien priories were those in England who were dependant on usually French mother houses. During the Hundred Years War these priories were seen as a security risk. They also were a means of transferring much needed English money to France. A law was passed confiscating these priories. Many were transferred over to other religious orders.
A meeting of the Lollards was stormed by the King's troops and many were arrested and subsequently put to death. Their leader, Sir John Oldcastle, managed to escape capture.
The marriage of King Henry V and Catherine, the daughter of Charles VI king of France, took place and sealed the Treaty of Troyes.
Prince Henry (later Henry VI) was born at Windsor.
Henry VI (1422 - 1461)
Canterbury South West Tower building work by Thomas Mapilton.
The North-west tower of Wells Cathedral was constructed during this time.
It is believed that Owen Tudor and Catherine were secretly married in this year or just before.
Richard Duke of York married Cecily Neville.
With an escort of attendants, Joan of Arc left Vaucouleurs dressed as a man. The party headed for Chinon where King Charles VII was staying. They reached Chinon in early March.
Joan was granted an audience with the dauphin at Vaucouleurs. At the meeting Charles had disguised himself as a servant and had a servant dress as himself. Joan was not fooled and picked the king out. Charles was impressed when Joan told him that God had told her that he was the true heir.
Joan of Arc and the dauphin entered Rheims. Charles was crowned in the Cathedral and became King of France.
The French fail to retake Paris that had been captured by the English. Joan was slightly injured during the fighting.
Joan's main objective was to liberate Paris from the Burgundians, but first she needed to free Compiegne. It was during the fighting here that she was wounded again and this time captured. Joan was then sold to the English who handed her over to the Church. As Compiegne was under the bishopric of Beauvais Joan was delivered to Pierre Cauchon, the Bishop of Beauvais, who led the trial.
Joan's trial began.
Building work on the south-west tower of York Minster took place until 1456.
Catherine died in this year after retiring to Bermondsey Abbey. Some reports say she died whilst giving birth, but this is probably wrong.
Pope Eugenius IV granted the gift of the Golden Rose to King Henry VI for his devotion to both the Church and education. The Golden Rose was a solid gold ornament in the shape of a rose.
A parliament was held at Bury St. Edmunds where the Duke of Gloucester was accused of treason and arrested. It was said that he was planning an uprising against the king. The accusations were made falsely by the Duke of Suffolk. Gloucester died only days after his arrest.
The West window of Southwell Cathedral was begun in this year.
Edmund Tudor married Margaret Beaufort, the heiress of the Duke of Somerset. Margaret was only twelve years old. Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort were the parents of Henry Tudor, the future King of England, Henry VII.
Edward IV (1461 - 1470)
Lightning once again hit the wooden and lead spire at Norwich Cathedral causing a fire that spread to the roof. After this disaster stone was used in the roof to provide vaulting and used in the new spire to replace the wood.
At the Great Council at Reading Abbey King Edward IV announced his marriage and Elizabeth Woodville was recognised as Queen.
Elizabeth, the first daughter to Edward IV and Elizabeth was born. A second daughter, Mary, was born on August 8th 1467.
Canterbury Lady Chapel Vault built.
Edward arranged for his sister Margaret to marry Charles the Duke of Burgundy. Burgundy had for some time been a supporter of the Yorkists and this marriage strengthened the bond. For Warwick, this was a disaster. Warwick had been attempting to make an alliance with France and that was not about to happen.
Warwick and the Duke of Clarence travelled to France where Clarence was married to Warwick's fifteen year old daughter Isabel. The ceremony was conducted by Warwick's brother George Neville the Archbishop of York.
Henry VI (1470 restored)
Building work on the north-west tower of York Minster took place until 1474.
King Edward IV's wife Elizabeth gave birth to her first son. Elizabeth had taken refuge at Westminster Abbey after King Henry VI had been restored to the throne by the Earl of Warwick and King Edward had fled to Burgundy. The baby was named Edward and would be heir to the English throne.
The marriage between Edward of Lancaster, the son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, to Anne Neville, the daughter of Richard Neville the Kingmaker was a marriage to cement the agreement that Richard and Margaret would support each other and try to get Henry VI back on the English throne. The marriage took place in France at the Chateau d'Amboise where Margaret and Edward were exiled.
Edward IV (1471 restored - 1483)
The construction of the massive church of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle was begun by Edward IV. The church was not completed until 1528 in the reign of Henry VIII some fifty years later.
Richard, duke of York, married Anne Mowbray, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, at Westminster. The two were only children. Anne died in 1481 at the age of 8 or 9.
The roof and tower of Rheims Cathedral were badly damaged by fire after workmen left a lit brasier unattended overnight in the roof space.
Richard III (1483 - 1485)
Henry VII (1485 - 1509)
Catherine of Aragon is born at Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Her father and mother were Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon.
Henry married Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV, at Westminster Abbey.
Work was carried out on the Lady Chapel of Winchester Cathedral.
The future king of England Henry VIII was born at Greenwich Palace. He was the third child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.
Elizabeth Woodville had retired to Bermondsey Abbey and it was here that she died at the age of round 55.
At Canterbury Cathedral building work was undertaken on the central tower including strainer arches in the crossing.
Building work of a new church in the Perpendicular style began at Bath Abbey.
Catherine of Aragon finally arrived at Plymouth in preparation for her marriage to Prince Arthur after several months of travelling.
After several days of celebration and reception Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon were married at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Prince Arthur took up his position as governor of the Welsh Marches and moved to Ludlow Castle. He was accompanied by his wife Catherine of Aragon.
William Wareham was elected to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Julius II.
Henry VII ordered the construction of a new Lady chapel at the east end of Westminster Abbey. The building work was carried out in the Perpendicular style.
Isabella of Castile died.
Pope Julius II gave permission for the marriage between Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. The legality of the marriage was in question because Catherine had been married to Henry's elder brother Arthur.
Thomas Wolsey was given the position of royal chaplain to Henry VII.
Henry VIII (1509 - 1547)
Repairs at Norwich Cathedral, because of a fire, resulted in the transept roofs being replaced by stone vaulting.
Thomas Wolsey was given the position of royal almoner to Henry VIII.
A fire at the Tower of London damages St. Peter's chapel within the castle grounds.
Thomas Wolsey organised Henry's invasion into France ensuring the army was feed, watered and had good accommodation.
Thomas Wolsey was rewarded with the Bishopric of Lincoln.
Thomas Wolsey is promoted to the position of Archbishop of York.
King Louis XII of France died at the age of 52 leaving Mary a widow. His nephew, Francis, became the next king of France.
Princess Mary ran away with Charles Brandon after the death of Louis XII. They were secretly married but caught and forced to pay a fine.
Princess Mary, the younger sister of Henry VIII, married Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk at Greenwich. Henry VIII gave full consent to the marriage.
Anne of Cleves was born in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Upset by the abuses he saw in the Catholic Church, Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-five Theses to the door of the church of Wittenberg. The abuses included the practice of selling high positions in the Church for money and the sale of indulgences allowing those with enough wealth to be forgiven for their sins.
Henry VIII told Catherine of Aragon that their marriage was invalid because she had earlier been married to his brother Arthur. Anne Boleyn, who Henry had become besotted with, wanted Henry to divorce Catherine and to marry her.
Thomas Wolsey died at Leicester.
Albeit the king's majesty justly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England, and so is recognised by the clergy of this realm in their convocations, yet nevertheless, for corroboration and confirmation thereof, and for increase of virtue in Christ's religion within the realm of England, and to repress and extirpate all errors, heresies and other abuses heretofore used in the same, be it enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that the king of our sovereign lord, his heirs and successors , kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted and reputed the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England, called Anglicana Eccesia and shall have and enjoy, annexed and united to the imperial crownof this realm, as well the title and crown thereof, as all honours , pre-eminences, jurisdictions, privilages, authorities, immunities, profits and commodities to the said dignity of the supreme head of the same church belonging and appertaining and that our said sovereign lord, his heirs and successors, kings of this realm, shall have full power and authority from time to time to visit, repress, redress, record, order, correct, retrain and amend all such errors, heresies, abuses, offences,contempts and enormities, wahtsoever they be, which by any manner of spiritual authority or jurisdiction ought or may lawfully be reformed, repressed, ordred, redressed, corrected, restrained, or amended, most of the pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of virtue in Christ's religion and for the conservation of the peace , unity and tranquillity of this realm any usage, foreign law, foreign authority, prescription or any other thing of things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Henry VIII obtained much needed money by suppressing hundreds of religious houses across the country and selling off their lands and assets. The monasteries, abbeys and nunneries had in the past played an important role in the fabric of medieval life. Not only had they acted as a place of worship, but they were also a centre for education, refuge for travellers and provided food for the poor. But times were changing and education was being provided by newly created universities and inns were providing a place for travellers. Less people were interested in a monastic life. Henry and Thomas Cromwell sent out surveyors to report on the state of each religious community, starting with the smaller houses first. Those houses that were badly run or where disipline for the religious order they followed had become slack were closed down immediately and their lands and assets taken. The abbots were offered pensions or money to surrender their houses but also threatened with violence if they did not. Several abbots were executed for not surrendering their abbeys. The inhabitants of the houses were sent to larger abbeys or just abandoned. A second round of suppression followed that concentrated on the larger religious houses. But the suppression did not come without a cost. Several revolts were sparked by the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was executed for treason and adultery at the Tower of London.
Jane Seymour died after complications with the birth of Edward VI. She was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Henry VIII ordered the destruction of the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral and the removal of all the offerings that had been made over the centuries. The bones were supposed to have been burned but may have been reburied sparking a mystery over the location of the remains today.
Waltham Abbey has the distinction of being the last monastery to be dissolved by Henry VIII.
The monastery at Gloucester surrendered to Henry VIII as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The abbey at Gloucester became a Cathedral at the centre of its own diocese. Previously it had been part of the Worcester diocese. John Wakeman was assigned as the first bishop.
Henry VIII married Catherine Parr, his sixth and final wife, at Hampton Court Palace.
Edward VI (1547 - 1553)
King Henry VIII died at Whitehall Palace at the age of 55. He was buried in St. George's Chapel Windsor next to Jane Seymour, his favourite wife.
Jealous of his elder brother's power Thomas Seymour married Catherine Parr to enter the household of the young King Edward and the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth.
After a lengthy siege failed to take the well defended castle at St. Andrews, Mary of Guise asked the French for help. The castle at St. Andrews was captured and the Protestant leaders and John Knox were taken into custody.
Mary I (1553 - 1558)
Elizabeth agreed to attend a mass but when the day came she pretended to be ill and only took part under protest. Elizabeth had refused to attend any Catholic ceremony including the one that Mary had arranged after the death of Edward. Mary and Elizabeth disagreed strongly over religion.
The marriage of Queen Mary of England and Philip of Spain took place. The marriage was conducted at Winchester Cathedral.
Anne of Cleves died. Since the divorce from Henry VIII Anne had been given a good annual income and use of several homes.
A group of Scottish Lords signed a covenant promising to support the advancement 'the most blessed Word of God' and to push forward the Reformation in Scotland. This was a move against what they saw as the threat from France which came from the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to the French Dauphin. They called themselves the Lords of the Congregation.
Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603)
Queen Mary of England died at the age of forty two. She was buried at Westminster Abbey.
Other
Proxy wedding of Charles Henrietta in Paris.
Charles marries Henrietta Maria de Bourbon in St Augustine's Church at Canterbury.
Charles I was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Henrietta gave birth to her first child, Charles James Stuart, but he died the same day.
Charles (II), the future King of England was born at St. James's Palace in London.
James was the fourth child of Charles I and Henrietta Maria.
The army Charles had put together was no match for the Scottish army under the command of Leslie and so the King signed the Treaty of Berwick. While the Scots returned home happy that they could deal with their own church affairs, Charles had no intensions of abiding by the terms of the treaty and used the treaty as a means of gaining time to plan his next move.
Henry Stuart, the son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France was born.
Parliamentarian troops broke into Canterbury Cathedral and damaged the interior including the organ and choir.
The marriage of General Henry Ireton to Bridget, the eldest daughter of Oliver Cromwell.
