St Augustine's Abbey

In 597, Augustine arrived in England, having been sent by Pope Gregory I to convert the Anglo-Saxons. The king of Kent at this time was Æthelberht (or Ethelbert). Although he worshipped in a pagan temple just outside the walls of Canterbury to the east of the city, Ethelbert was married to a Christian, Bertha. According to tradition, the king not only gave his temple and its precincts to St Augustine for a church and monastery, William Thorne, the 14th-century chronicler of the abbey, records 598 as the year of the foundation. The church was completed and consecrated in 613. Ca. 624 a short distance to the east, Eadbald, son and successor of Ethelbert, founded a second church, dedicated to Saint Mary which also buried Kentish royalty. The abbey became known as St Augustine's after the founder's death. For two centuries after its founding, St Augustine's was the only important religious house in the kingdom of Kent. The historian G. F. Maclear characterized St Augustine's as being a "missionary school" where "classical knowledge and English learning flourished". Over time, St Augustine's Abbey acquired an extensive library that included both religious and secular holdings. In addition, it had a scriptorium for producing manuscripts. Dunstan's reform Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury from 959 to 988, influenced a reorganisation of the abbey to conform to Benedictine rule. Buildings were enlarged and the church rebuilt. Dunstan also revised the dedication of the abbey, from the original Saints Peter and Paul, by adding Saint Augustine in 978. Since then, the abbey has been known as St Augustine's. Invading Danes The invading Danes not only spared St Augustine's, but in 1027 King Cnut made over all the possessions of Minster-in-Thanet to St Augustine's. These possessions included the preserved body of Mildrith (St Mildred). Belief in the miraculous power of this relic had spread throughout Europe, and it brought many pilgrims to St Augustine's, whose gifts enriched the abbey. Norman conquest Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror confiscated landed estates, but he respected Church property. At St Augustine's Abbey, the Anglo-Saxon buildings were completely reconstructed in the form of a typical Norman Benedictine monastery. The fire's destruction accounts for the paucity of historical records for the preceding period. From about 1250 onwards was a period of wealth in which "building succeeded building". Boggis's history calls this period a time of "worldly magnificence", marked by "lavish expenditures" on new buildings, royal visits, and banquets with thousands of guests. In addition, the papacy imposed many levies on the abbey. The large debt that was incurred by these expenditures might have swamped the abbey had it not been for generous benefactors who came to the rescue. The cloister, frater (refectory) and kitchen were totally rebuilt. A new abbot's lodging and a great hall were added. In the early 14th century, land was acquired for a cellarer's range (living and working quarters for the cellarer who was responsible for provisioning the abbey's cellarium), a brewhouse, a bakehouse, and a new walled vineyard. A Lady chapel was built to the east of the church. In 1660, after the Restoration, Charles II and his brothers, the Dukes of York and Gloucester, stayed in the gatehouse on their way to London. Fyndon's gate suffered such damage by German bombs during the Second World War that it had to be rebuilt. Leybourne was buried in the chapel. She gave the manor of Dene in Thanet to the abbey and a chantry to say daily prayers for her after her death. ==Dissolution to present==

Boggis describes the early 16th century leading up to the Dissolution of the Monasteries as "days of decadence". Although the abbey owned estates throughout Kent amounting to 19,862 acres, Boggis holds that "historical evidence proves conclusively that even if Henry VIII had never dissolved them, the English monasteries were already doomed." The "extortionate exactions" of the Papacy would lead to bankruptcy. However, the English Reformation accompanied by the Dissolution of the Monasteries happened before bankruptcy. The Reformation replaced the Pope (a cleric) with a monarch (a layman). Actions by the Parliament's House of Commons strengthened the power of the laity versus the power of the clergy. These actions were part of the English Reformation's "great transfer" of power, both economic and religious, from ecclesiastical to secular authorities. As part of the "great transfer", Parliament gave King Henry VIII authority to dissolve the monasteries and confiscate the property for the Crown. The rationale given was "that the religious houses had ceased to apply their property to the specific religious uses for which it was originally given." Dismantling During the rest of Henry's reign, St Augustine's Abbey was held by the Crown with some of its buildings converted into a royal residence. However, in other parts of the abbey dismantling and sale of material began in 1541. Some of the stone was used in the fortifications of the Pale of Calais, but more of it was sold locally. The library, containing two thousand manuscripts, was destroyed and the treasure plundered. Lord Cobham was a resident of Kent who had served her faithfully as a diplomat and parliamentarian. On the attainder of Lord Cobham for treason in 1603 under the reign of James I, the residence was granted to Robert Cecil, Lord Essenden. for a yearly rent of £20 13s and 4d. Sir Edward Hales (1626–1684) took possession of the property after Lady Wootton's death, to be followed by his son Sir Edward Hales (1645–1695). Rather than conserving the property, these new owners dismantled the buildings and carried used stones to build a new house at Hales Place. In 1804, a portion of the site was divided into lots and sold. The Great Court was used as a bowling green and skittle ground. Ethelbert's Tower, the remaining tower of the Norman abbey, was taken down in 1822. Robert Ewell, in his Guide to St. Augustine’s Monastery and Missionary College wrote that in the first half of the 19th century, the abbey "reached its lowest point of degradation". St Augustine's Missionary College remained in existence until 1947. However, on the night of 31 May 1942, its buildings were so badly damaged by a German Blitz raid that the college ceased operations. From 1952 to 1967, the Missionary College buildings were used as the Central College of the Anglican Communion. From 1969 to 1976, the college buildings were used by the theological department of King's College London as a base for final year ordination preparation. Since 1976, the college buildings, together with some new ones, have been used by the King's School, Canterbury, for boarding houses and the school library. This part of the St Augustine's Abbey site was at first leased and then in 1994 bought by the school. In 1940 the ruins of the abbey were taken into the care of the British government The Abbey is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Canterbury Cathedral and St Martin's Church. ==Ruins extant==

File:Canterbury - St Augustine's Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 6635816.jpg|Ruins of the abbey church at St Augustine's Abbey St Augustine Canterbury St Pancras church2.JPG|Ruins of the Anglo-Saxon St Pancras Church, on the grounds of St Augustine's Staugustinescanterburyrotundaandnave.jpg|Ruins of the rotunda and nave of the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, on the grounds of St Augustine's View of Canterbury Cathedral from St Augustine's Abbey.jpg|View of Canterbury Cathedral from the ruin grounds of St Augustine's Staugustinescanterburygraveaugustine.jpg|Gravesite of Augustine of Canterbury Gravesites of Mellitus, Justus and Laurence at St. Augustine's Abbey.jpg|Gravesites of Mellitus, Justus and Laurence, early Archbishops of Canterbury File:Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary - St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury 2024-12-29.jpg|The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary in St Augustine's Abbey File:Surviving floor tiles from elsewhere in the church relaid on the floor of Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary - St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury 2024-12-29.jpg|Surviving floor tiles from elsewhere in the church, relaid on the floor of the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Notable burials at the abbey • Æthelberht of Kent, King of Kent, in the Church of St Peter and St Paul. His shrine was later placed above the high altar of the Norman church • Eadbald of Kent, King of Kent, in the Church of St Peter and St Paul • Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury • Emma of Austrasia, consort of Eadbald, also in the Church of St Peter and St Paul • Justus, first Bishop of Rochester, fourth Archbishop of Canterbury • Juliana Leybourne, Countess of Huntingdon, landowner and benefactor • Mellitus, saint, third Archbishop of Canterbury and the first Bishop of London ==List of abbots==

The following list is drawn from Edward Hasted, "The Abbey of St Augustine: Abbots", in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, Volume 12 (Canterbury, 1801), pp. 177–225. The start of an abbot's tenure is the earliest date known, be it election, confirmation or consecration, except where indicated. The end date of an abbot's tenure is his date of death unless otherwise noted. • Peter (598/605–607), appointed by the king, died en route to Francia • John (607–618), a companion of Augustine • Ruffinian (618–626), a companion of Augustine • Graciosus (626–638), a native of Rome and a companion of Augustine • Petronius (640–654), a native of Rome • Nathaniel (655–667), a companion of Mellitus and Justus • Adrian (–708), a native of Africa, did not arrive in England until 673 • :Benedict Biscop acted as abbot during 669–671 • Albinus (708–732), an Englishman and disciple of Adrian • Nothbarld (732–748), a monk of the abbey • Aldhune (748–760) • Jænberht (760–762), became archbishop of Canterbury • Ethelnod (762–787) • Guttard (d. 803) • Cunred (803–822), a relative of King Cuthred of Kent • Wernod (d. 844), a relative of King Cuthred • Diernod (d. 864) • Wynhere (d. 866) • Beadmund (d. 874) • Kynebert (d. 879) • Etaus (d. 883) • Degmund (d. 886) • Alfrid (d. 894) • Ceolbert (d. 902) • Beccan (d. 907) • Athelwald (d. 909) • Gilbert (d. 917) • Edred (917) • Alchmund (d. 928) • Guttulf (d. 935) • Eadred (d. 937) • Lulling (d. 939) • Beornelm (d. 942) • Sigeric (d. 956) • Alfric (d. 971) • Elfnoth (d. 980) • Sigeric (980–989), became archbishop of Canterbury • Wulfric the Elder (990–1006) • Elmer (1006–1022), became bishop of Sherborne • Ælfstan (1022–1044/47) • Wulfric the Younger (1044/47–1059/61), sent to Rome on royal business in 1056 • Egelsin (1059/61–1070), a monk of Winchester, fled his abbey after the Norman conquest • Scotland or Scoland (1070–1087), a Norman made abbot by the king • Wido (1087–1099) • Hugh I of Fleury (d. 26 March 1124), a Norman • Hugh II of Trottiscliffe (1125 – 25 June 1151), a monk of Rochester, election confirmed by cardinal-legate John of Crema • Sylvester (1152–1161), prior, went to Rome to have his election confirmed by the pope, was later excommunicated and deposed by the archbishop, but restored before his death • Clarembald (1163–1173/76), a layman appointed by the king, deposed • Roger (1176 – 20 October 1212), went to Tusculum to be consecrated by the pope • Alexander le Pargiter (1212 – 4 October 1220), went to Rome to be consecrated by the pope • Hugh III (26 August 1220 – 3 November 1224), chamberlain of the monastery, went to Rome to be consecrated by the pope (1 April 1221) • Robert de Bathel (24 November 1224 – 16 January 1252), treasurer of the monastery, went to Rome to receive consecration from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano (1225) • Roger de Chichester (3 February 1253 – 13 December 1272) • Nicholas Thorn or de Spina (2 January 1273 – 1283), consecrated at Rome (Easter 1273) and later resigned in Rome • Thomas de Fyndon (1283 – 16 February 1309), prior • Ralph Bourn (7 March 1309 – 3 February 1334), went to Avignon for consecration (30 June 1309) • Thomas Poney (1 March 1334 – 13 September 1343), went to Avignon for consecration (12 June 1334) • William Drulege (2 October 1343 – 11 September 1346), chamberlain • John Devenisse, appointed by the pope in 1346 • Thomas Colwelle (October 1349 – 29 May 1375), appointed by the pope • Michael Peckham (d. 11 February 1386), chamberlain • William Welde (28 February 1389 – 12 June 1405), doctor of canon law • Thomas Hunden (6 May 1405 – 17 August 1420) • Marcellus Dandelyon, abbot in 1426 • John Hawkherst • George Pensherst, prior, confirmed by the king on 27 February 1430 and still abbot in 1450 • James Sevenock, elected in 1457 • William Selling (d. 1480), resigned? • John (d. 1497) • John Dygon (17 February 1497 – 1509), uncle of the composer John Dygon • Thomas Hampton, confirmed by the king on 21 July 1509 • John Hawkins, abbot in 1511 • John Foche or John Essex ( – 30 July 1538), surrendered the monastery to the crown during the Dissolution of the Monasteries ==See also==