DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0138
THE PRIORY CHURCH, AT CHRIST CHURCH.
81
this county, and the second deemed it necessary, either to gratify his worldly
ambition, or to propitiate the Deity, to build, at this place, a church, with some
conventual dwellings. This was dedicated to Christ, and the adjoining town, from
that period, has obtained the name of Christ Church. The crafty bishop* did not
long enjoy his prosperity and episcopal honours, for King Henry the First im-
prisoned him in the Tower, and confiscated his property. From this prison, how-
ever, he contrived to escape, and by some of his friends was escorted to France,
where he prevailed on Robert, the eldest brother of Henry, to invade England.
The rival brothers met near Portsmouth ; but, instead of fighting for the kingdom,
an amicable arrangement was made : and it was stipulated, among other things,
that Flambard should be reinstated in the bishopric of Durham.
It does not appear that he ever regained his influence at Christ Church : for
Henry the First granted the priory, town, and some adjoining lands, to Richard de
Redvers, who augmented the monastic endowments, by conferring on them some
lands in the Isle of Wight, one of his baronies called Absam, and induced the
parishioners to grant their tithes to the same foundation. Earl Baldwin, or Baldwin
de Redvers, the lay-patron and son of the above Richard, prevailed on Henry de
Blois, Bishop of Winchester, to alter the constitution of the monastery, from
seculars, to canons regular of the order of St. Augustine, under the control of a
prior, and at the same time confirmed all the grants made by his father, and added
some benefactions of his own. His son Richard ratified these, and allowed the
canons to elect their own prior. At the dissolution of Henry VIII. the revenues
of this priory were valued, according to kSpeed, at £544. 6s. but Dugdale states it
at £312. 7s. 9d. The church was granted (37 Henry VIII.) to the inhabitants of
the town, and is now used for parochial service.
The extent of the buildings erected by Flambard at Christ Church, and the
endowments then made for the support of the monastery, are not specified by any of
our ancient writers : but it is presumed that parts of the nave and transepts of the
present church, are of his age. These are evidently of the early Norman style,
and present some curious, and rather peculiar architectural features. In a late
* Ordericus (Vit. p. 67S.) charges him with prodigality, luxury, libertinism, ambition, and avarice, as well as
with flattering the King in his vices. Carte—(Hist. Eng. i. 450)—describes him as having acquired great
ascendancy over the King, and considerable power in the country. Before he became prelate, he had a seat in the
great council of the nobility of the kingdom. Possessing much courage, with considerable eloquence, he overawed
and intimidated many of the nobles, and was so complete a tyrant in behalf of his haughty and avaricious monarch,
that he was generally hated and dreaded.
81
this county, and the second deemed it necessary, either to gratify his worldly
ambition, or to propitiate the Deity, to build, at this place, a church, with some
conventual dwellings. This was dedicated to Christ, and the adjoining town, from
that period, has obtained the name of Christ Church. The crafty bishop* did not
long enjoy his prosperity and episcopal honours, for King Henry the First im-
prisoned him in the Tower, and confiscated his property. From this prison, how-
ever, he contrived to escape, and by some of his friends was escorted to France,
where he prevailed on Robert, the eldest brother of Henry, to invade England.
The rival brothers met near Portsmouth ; but, instead of fighting for the kingdom,
an amicable arrangement was made : and it was stipulated, among other things,
that Flambard should be reinstated in the bishopric of Durham.
It does not appear that he ever regained his influence at Christ Church : for
Henry the First granted the priory, town, and some adjoining lands, to Richard de
Redvers, who augmented the monastic endowments, by conferring on them some
lands in the Isle of Wight, one of his baronies called Absam, and induced the
parishioners to grant their tithes to the same foundation. Earl Baldwin, or Baldwin
de Redvers, the lay-patron and son of the above Richard, prevailed on Henry de
Blois, Bishop of Winchester, to alter the constitution of the monastery, from
seculars, to canons regular of the order of St. Augustine, under the control of a
prior, and at the same time confirmed all the grants made by his father, and added
some benefactions of his own. His son Richard ratified these, and allowed the
canons to elect their own prior. At the dissolution of Henry VIII. the revenues
of this priory were valued, according to kSpeed, at £544. 6s. but Dugdale states it
at £312. 7s. 9d. The church was granted (37 Henry VIII.) to the inhabitants of
the town, and is now used for parochial service.
The extent of the buildings erected by Flambard at Christ Church, and the
endowments then made for the support of the monastery, are not specified by any of
our ancient writers : but it is presumed that parts of the nave and transepts of the
present church, are of his age. These are evidently of the early Norman style,
and present some curious, and rather peculiar architectural features. In a late
* Ordericus (Vit. p. 67S.) charges him with prodigality, luxury, libertinism, ambition, and avarice, as well as
with flattering the King in his vices. Carte—(Hist. Eng. i. 450)—describes him as having acquired great
ascendancy over the King, and considerable power in the country. Before he became prelate, he had a seat in the
great council of the nobility of the kingdom. Possessing much courage, with considerable eloquence, he overawed
and intimidated many of the nobles, and was so complete a tyrant in behalf of his haughty and avaricious monarch,
that he was generally hated and dreaded.