Malling Abbey
Encyclopedia
St. Mary’s Abbey is an abbey of Anglican Benedictine nuns, located at West Malling
, Kent
, England
.
in 946. The land was lost to the church
in the Danish Wars but was restored to the diocese in 1076. About 1090 Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester
and monk of Bec Abbey
in Normandy, chose Malling as the site of his foundation for a community of Benedictine nuns, one of the first post-Conquest monasteries for women. Just before his death in 1108, Gundulf appointed the French nun Avicia as the first abbess.
Gundulf had endowed the community with the manor of Malling and Archbishop Anselm
had given the manor of East Malling. Royal grants gave the nuns the rights to weekly markets and annual fairs as well as wood-cutting and pasturage rights in nearby royal forests. Bequests and gifts also added to the community’s income.
As the Abbey prospered, West Malling
became a flourishing market town. In the four-and-a-half centuries of
Benedictine life at the Abbey, major events included a fire in 1190 which destroyed much of the Abbey and town, the Black Death in 1349 which reduced the community to four nuns and four novices, and the surrender of Malling to the Crown on 28 October 1538, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
.
The last elected abbess, Elizabeth Rede, had been deposed when she defied both Henry VIII
and Thomas Cranmer
over the appointment of a High Steward for the Abbey. Margaret Vernon, who had been tutor to Cranmer’s son, and had already surrendered Little Marlow Priory, was appointed Abbess of Malling in her place. On 28 October
1538, two agents of the Crown seized the Abbey Seal and signed the Deed of Surrender, but apparently were unable to persuade a single nun to sign.
Immediately before the Dissolution, Malling Abbey had an annual income of £245, placing it among the wealthiest third of women’s communities in England. With its outlying lands, its splendid Norman church, Early English cloister, early 15th century guest house and two fine early 16th century gatehouses, it was a rich prize for the Crown. During the 350 years that followed the Abbey was owned by many families, most being absentee owners.
The buildings fell into ruin until the mid 1700s when Frazer Honeywood, a London banker, built a fine neo-gothic mansion and repaired the remaining medieval fabric. In 1892 the property was purchased by Charlotte Boyd whose life’s work it was to create a Trust to restore church property to its original use. She invited a small Anglican Benedictine community, the
Community of Saints Mary and Scholastica, to settle at the Abbey.
This community had been founded by Fr. Ignatius of Llanthony (Joseph Leycester Lyne
) but had become independent of his rule in 1879, with Mother Hilda Stewart, O.S.B. as their abbess - the first Anglican Benedictine abbess since the Reformation. This community left Malling Abbey in 1911, joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1913 and now resides at Curzon Park, Chester.
. In 1906 they moved to a farmhouse in Baltonsborough, a remote village in Somerset, to begin their enclosed monastic life under Benedictine
vows.
In 1916 the Trustees of Malling Abbey invited them to move to the more spacious and historic Abbey and to continue its tradition of Benedictine prayer, worship, work, study, and hospitality.
up to the first two stories and Early English above. Attached to the tower are some remnants of the church, one of the transepts and a wall of the nave; the refectory is also standing. The cloisters were re-erected in the fourteenth century. There is also a Grade II* 1966 Abbey Church which is used by the community.
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The manor of West Malling was given by King Edmund to Burhic, Bishop of RochesterBishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
in 946. The land was lost to the church
in the Danish Wars but was restored to the diocese in 1076. About 1090 Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
and monk of Bec Abbey
Bec Abbey
Bec Abbey in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, once the most influential abbey in the Anglo-Norman kingdom of the twelfth century, is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure département, in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay.Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals...
in Normandy, chose Malling as the site of his foundation for a community of Benedictine nuns, one of the first post-Conquest monasteries for women. Just before his death in 1108, Gundulf appointed the French nun Avicia as the first abbess.
Gundulf had endowed the community with the manor of Malling and Archbishop Anselm
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109...
had given the manor of East Malling. Royal grants gave the nuns the rights to weekly markets and annual fairs as well as wood-cutting and pasturage rights in nearby royal forests. Bequests and gifts also added to the community’s income.
As the Abbey prospered, West Malling
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
became a flourishing market town. In the four-and-a-half centuries of
Benedictine life at the Abbey, major events included a fire in 1190 which destroyed much of the Abbey and town, the Black Death in 1349 which reduced the community to four nuns and four novices, and the surrender of Malling to the Crown on 28 October 1538, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
.
The last elected abbess, Elizabeth Rede, had been deposed when she defied both Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
and Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
over the appointment of a High Steward for the Abbey. Margaret Vernon, who had been tutor to Cranmer’s son, and had already surrendered Little Marlow Priory, was appointed Abbess of Malling in her place. On 28 October
1538, two agents of the Crown seized the Abbey Seal and signed the Deed of Surrender, but apparently were unable to persuade a single nun to sign.
Immediately before the Dissolution, Malling Abbey had an annual income of £245, placing it among the wealthiest third of women’s communities in England. With its outlying lands, its splendid Norman church, Early English cloister, early 15th century guest house and two fine early 16th century gatehouses, it was a rich prize for the Crown. During the 350 years that followed the Abbey was owned by many families, most being absentee owners.
The buildings fell into ruin until the mid 1700s when Frazer Honeywood, a London banker, built a fine neo-gothic mansion and repaired the remaining medieval fabric. In 1892 the property was purchased by Charlotte Boyd whose life’s work it was to create a Trust to restore church property to its original use. She invited a small Anglican Benedictine community, the
Community of Saints Mary and Scholastica, to settle at the Abbey.
This community had been founded by Fr. Ignatius of Llanthony (Joseph Leycester Lyne
Joseph Leycester Lyne
Joseph Leycester Lyne, known by his religious name, Father Ignatius was an Anglican Benedictine preacher....
) but had become independent of his rule in 1879, with Mother Hilda Stewart, O.S.B. as their abbess - the first Anglican Benedictine abbess since the Reformation. This community left Malling Abbey in 1911, joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1913 and now resides at Curzon Park, Chester.
Malling Abbey today
The Anglican Benedictine community of nuns that has made its home at Malling Abbey since 1916 was founded in 1891 as an active parish sisterhood. The sisters worked among the poor in Edmonton, North London until they became attracted to the Benedictine contemplative life through the preaching of Abbot Aelred CarlyleAelred Carlyle
Aelred Carlyle, O.S.B. founded, around 1895, the first Anglican Benedictine community of monks.Born Benjamin Fearnley Carlyle, he was educated at Blundell's School. In 1892, he commenced medical training at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He did not complete his medical training...
. In 1906 they moved to a farmhouse in Baltonsborough, a remote village in Somerset, to begin their enclosed monastic life under Benedictine
vows.
In 1916 the Trustees of Malling Abbey invited them to move to the more spacious and historic Abbey and to continue its tradition of Benedictine prayer, worship, work, study, and hospitality.
Buildings
Little of the original building is now standing; the tower is NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
up to the first two stories and Early English above. Attached to the tower are some remnants of the church, one of the transepts and a wall of the nave; the refectory is also standing. The cloisters were re-erected in the fourteenth century. There is also a Grade II* 1966 Abbey Church which is used by the community.
External links
- Official website of Malling Abbey
- Anglican sites featuring Malling Abbey: Anglican Communities Yearbook, The Kingdom is Yours