[MR] Wikipedia: Gilbertine Order

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

Today I want to call your attention to the only truly English monastic 
order, the Gilbertines. They were founded around 1130 by Gilbert of 
Sempringham, originally around a small group of nuns. The contemplative 
order later expanded to include canons, lay sisters and lay brothers. 
Their rule was a composite of Cistercian and Benedictine principles, 
with the canons living under a modified Augustinian rule. The order was 
popular in both England and Wales, and at its peak included 26 
foundations. The Gilbertine order, already in serious decline, was 
dissolved in 1538 on the order of Henry VIII. Since there were no 
foundations in other countries, the order disappeared.

One of the Watton Priory nuns caused a major scandal when she fell 
pregnant by a lay brother. This led to some pretty horrific stuff, and a 
supposed miracle: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2006/01/09/history_watton_forbidden_love_feature.shtml 
. The story is a sad commentary on women's rights (or lack thereof) in 
medieval England, and the plight of unwilling oblates in general.

Wikipedia has a brief page about the Gilbertines, including a photo of 
the impressive Malton church: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbertine_Order . There is also a brief 
biography of Saint Gilbert of Sempringham: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_of_Sempringham .

Today the impressive parish church of Malton, England incorporates much 
of the former Gilbertine priory ( 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malton_Priory ). Other substantial 
surviving Gilbertine structures are a much-modified Watton Priory ( 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watton_Priory ) and and St. Mary's Church, 
North Cockerington ( 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary%27s_Church,_North_Cockerington ).

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge