Frideswide was the daughter of a 7th-century sub-king of Mercia named Dida of Eynsham whose lands occupied western Oxfordshire and the upper reaches of the River Thames.[3] When his wife Safrida died, Dida assisted his daughter in building a monastery, dedicating it to the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary and all the saints. Frideswide became the first abbess. The original nunnery founded by Frideswide was destroyed in 1002,[4] during the events of the St. Brice's Day massacre.[1] The king in recompense rebuilt it, and established secular canons there.[5]
Henry I gave the church with its endowments to Gwymund, a royal chaplain. In 1122 Gwymund installed Augustinian canons.[6] The second prior, Robert of Cricklade, wrote a book on miracles attributed to the intercession of Thomas à Becket. In 1336 the citizens of the town compelled the prior to forego the priory's special rights during the six days' fair beginning on St. Frideswide's day.[5] Baroness Montagu was a major benefactor of St Frideswide's.
In 1524, Cardinal Wolsey dissolved the Priory. Using funds from the dissolution of Wallingford Priory and other minor priories.[7] he then used its premises, together with those of other adjacent religious houses, to found a new college to be called Cardinal College on the land where the Priory once stood.
After Wolsey fell from power in 1530, King Henry VIII took over the nascent foundation, which he renamed Christ Church ("Aedes Christi"). The Church's five western bays of the nave made during the time of the Augustinian canons were demolished to make space to build the main quadrangle of the new college (now called Tom Quad). The intention was to demolish the remainder of the Church and replace it with a chapel on the north side of the quadrangle. That never happened, and the surviving portion of the Church, including the five remaining bays of the nave, became both the chapel for the new college, Christ Church and the cathedral for the new Diocese of Oxford which Henry VIII had separated from the Diocese of Lincoln.
^ abBlair, John (1988). "St Frideswide's monastery: problems and possibilities" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 221–258. ISSN 0308-5562.
^Dunning, Andrew N. J. (2018). "St Frideswide's Priory as a centre of learning in early Oxford" (PDF). Mediaeval Studies. 80: 253–296. ISSN 0076-5872.
^Blair, John (1987). "Saint Frideswide Reconsidered" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 52: 71–127.
^Berkshire History: St. Frideswide (Frilsham), Part 2
^ ab"Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of St Frideswide, Oxford", A History of the County of Oxford, Volume 2. (William Page, ed.) London: Victoria County History, 1907. 97-101 British History Online. Web. 12 February 2023
^The Legend of Frideswide of Oxford, an Anglo-Saxon Royal Abbess, Introduction
^Willoughby, James (October 2015). "Thomas Wolsey and the books of Cardinal College, Oxford". Bodleian Library Record. 28 (2): 114–134.
External links
British History Online - The priory of St Frideswide, Oxford
Saint Frideswide's Monastery at Oxford: Archaeological and Architectural Studies, from Oxoniensia vol. 53
August 23, 2023
frideswide, priory, established, priory, augustinian, canons, regular, 1122, priory, established, gwymund, chaplain, henry, england, among, most, illustrious, priors, were, writers, robert, cricklade, philip, oxford, christ, church, cathedral, contents, histor. St Frideswide s Priory was established as a priory of Augustinian canons regular in 1122 1 The priory was established by Gwymund chaplain to Henry I of England Among its most illustrious priors were the writers Robert of Cricklade and Philip of Oxford 2 St Frideswide s Priory now Christ Church Cathedral Contents 1 History 2 Burials 3 Notes 4 External linksHistory EditFrideswide was the daughter of a 7th century sub king of Mercia named Dida of Eynsham whose lands occupied western Oxfordshire and the upper reaches of the River Thames 3 When his wife Safrida died Dida assisted his daughter in building a monastery dedicating it to the Holy Trinity the Virgin Mary and all the saints Frideswide became the first abbess The original nunnery founded by Frideswide was destroyed in 1002 4 during the events of the St Brice s Day massacre 1 The king in recompense rebuilt it and established secular canons there 5 Henry I gave the church with its endowments to Gwymund a royal chaplain In 1122 Gwymund installed Augustinian canons 6 The second prior Robert of Cricklade wrote a book on miracles attributed to the intercession of Thomas a Becket In 1336 the citizens of the town compelled the prior to forego the priory s special rights during the six days fair beginning on St Frideswide s day 5 Baroness Montagu was a major benefactor of St Frideswide s In 1524 Cardinal Wolsey dissolved the Priory Using funds from the dissolution of Wallingford Priory and other minor priories 7 he then used its premises together with those of other adjacent religious houses to found a new college to be called Cardinal College on the land where the Priory once stood After Wolsey fell from power in 1530 King Henry VIII took over the nascent foundation which he renamed Christ Church Aedes Christi The Church s five western bays of the nave made during the time of the Augustinian canons were demolished to make space to build the main quadrangle of the new college now called Tom Quad The intention was to demolish the remainder of the Church and replace it with a chapel on the north side of the quadrangle That never happened and the surviving portion of the Church including the five remaining bays of the nave became both the chapel for the new college Christ Church and the cathedral for the new Diocese of Oxford which Henry VIII had separated from the Diocese of Lincoln Burials EditFrithuswith Lady Elizabeth Montacute William Orchard architect Edward PocockeNotes Edit a b Blair John 1988 St Frideswide s monastery problems and possibilities PDF Oxoniensia 53 221 258 ISSN 0308 5562 Dunning Andrew N J 2018 St Frideswide s Priory as a centre of learning in early Oxford PDF Mediaeval Studies 80 253 296 ISSN 0076 5872 Blair John 1987 Saint Frideswide Reconsidered PDF Oxoniensia 52 71 127 Berkshire History St Frideswide Frilsham Part 2 a b Houses of Augustinian canons The priory of St Frideswide Oxford A History of the County of Oxford Volume 2 William Page ed London Victoria County History 1907 97 101 British History Online Web 12 February 2023 The Legend of Frideswide of Oxford an Anglo Saxon Royal Abbess Introduction Willoughby James October 2015 Thomas Wolsey and the books of Cardinal College Oxford Bodleian Library Record 28 2 114 134 External links EditBritish History Online The priory of St Frideswide Oxford Saint Frideswide s Monastery at Oxford Archaeological and Architectural Studies from Oxoniensia vol 53 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Frideswide 27s Priory amp oldid 1139009275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
