Abbot of Bury St Edmunds

Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds was the title used by the head of the Benedictine monastery Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in the county of Suffolk, England. The following table lists the abbots from the foundation of the abbey in 1020 until its dissolution in 1539.[1]

Abbots of Bury St. Edmunds[2]FromToNotes
1Uvius/ Ufi10201044Founded St. George's Priory, Thetford.[3]
2Leofstan10441065
3Baldwin10651097
4Robert I11001102Son of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester
5Robert II11021107
6Alebold of Jerusalem11141119
7Anselm of St Saba11211146[a]Nephew of Anselm of Canterbury. Elected bishop of London in 1138, but was not consecrated bishop
8Ording11461156See note on dates of Anselm above - elected abbot while Anselm was bishop-elect (1138), then re-elected after Anselm's death
9Hugo/Hugh I11571180Refounded St. George's Priory, Thetford c. 1160. Discussed at length in the Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond.
10Samson of Tottington11821211Discussed at length in the Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond.
11Hugh of Northwold121512291213 locally, 1215 with Papal consent; became Bishop of Ely
12Richard12291234Also known as 'Richard of the Isle of Ely'
13Henry of Rushbrook12351248
14Edmund of Walpole12481256
15Simon of Luton12571279
16John of Northwold12791301
17Thomas of Tottington13021312
18Richard of Draughton13121335
19William of Bernham13351362William died the last day of February 1361 – 1362
20Henry of Hunstanton13621362Henry's abbacy was very brief
21John of Brinkley13621379John of Brinkley elected on Henry's demise
22John of Timworth13791389The Papal nominee for Abbot was Edmund Bromefield for 5 years of this time
23William of Cratfield13901415
24William of Exeter14151429
25William Curteys14291446
26William Babington14461453
27John Bohun14531469
28Robert Ixworth14691474See Ixworth Priory, Ixworth
29Richard Hengham14741479
30Thomas Rattlesden14791497See Rattlesden
31William Cadenham14971513
32John Reeve15131539Sometimes 'John Reeve of Melford';[4] died on 31 March 1540[5]

On 4 November 1539, the abbey was surrendered. The surrender is signed by Abbot John Reeve, Prior Thomas Ringstede (alias Dennis), and by forty-two other monks. All were awarded pensions, of varying amounts.[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ 1148 is given in one source.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Knowles, David; London, Vera C. M.; Brooke, Christopher (2001). The Heads of Religious Houses, England and Wales, 940–1216 (Second ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 31–33. ISBN 0-521-80452-3.
  2. ^ Page, William, ed. (1975). "Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Bury St Edmunds". A History of the County of Suffolk. Vol. 2. pp. 56–72. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  3. ^ A History of the County of Suffolk: Volume 2 Pages 85-86: Houses of Benedictine nuns: Priory of St George, Thetford www.british-history.ac.uk, accessed 13 January 2021
  4. ^ NICHOLAS ROGERS Scraps from Bury St Edmunds www.thericardian.online, accessed 25 September 2020
  5. ^ a b Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Bury St Edmunds Pages 56-72 www.british-history.ac.uk, accessed 25 September 2020