DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0085
BUILDWAS ABBEY, SHROPSHIQE.
43
The foundation of Buildwas Abbey is supposed to have taken place A. D. 1135;
but this date, I conceive, refers to the endowment of the monastery, subsequent to
the erection of the building. The words of the original are—
" Ego Rogerus Dei gratia Cestrensis Episc. universis sanctse matris Ecclesise
filiis, &c. Salutem. Jesu Christi Creatoris nostri monitis—qui dixit.—Thesaurizate
vobis Thesauros in Ccelo, ubi neque ajrugo, neque Tinea demolitur, & Fures non
effodiunt nec furantur, &c. Hoc igitur intuitu (fratres charissimi) donamus, conce-
dimus, & in fundamentum Abbathise confirmamus Deo, & charissimo fratri nostro
Abbati Ingenulfo, & fratribus ejus, villam, nostram de Buldas, cum omnibus per-
tinentiis, &c."
As this charter is without date, some uncertainty occurs with respect to the exact
time of its execution ; but at whatever time that event took place, it may be fairly
imagined, from the tenor of the conclusion, that the society of monks was then
formed, and in all probability settled, in the new Monastery : and indeed it is more
consistent to suppose, that the Abbey was first built, and afterwards assigned to the
monks, than that they were first selected, and an abbey afterwards erected to receive
them. Besides, the simple designation of Ingenulfus, as Abbot, seems to imply that
be was Abbot of Buildwas, and not of any other convent; otherwise that circum-
stance would certainly have been specified. The words "in fundamentum abbathise,"
do not necessarily point out the grant to have preceded the erection of the abbey ;
for, by the same terms may be understood, either a donation for the purpose of
building a religious edifice, or a benefaction for the support of a previously esta-
blished monastery. In the latter sense, a second, third, fourth, and even fifth
founder, occur*
But what may perhaps be thought to afford more conclusive evidence, that the
supposed date in this charter is not the same with that of the foundation of Buildwas,
is the fact that in July, 1138, (only three years afterwards,) when King Stephen
attended at the siege of Shrewsbury, he granted to the monks of Buildwas a charter
°f confirmation, dedicated to " God and the Church of St. Chadd, at Buildwas, and
the Abbot and Monks of the order of St. Savigni, serving God therein,"—an ex-
pression, clearly shewing that the offices of devotion were then performed at the new
Monastery. The space of three years, however, is too short an interval to allow for
* Tanner. Notitia Monastica :—Shropshire. No. xviii.
43
The foundation of Buildwas Abbey is supposed to have taken place A. D. 1135;
but this date, I conceive, refers to the endowment of the monastery, subsequent to
the erection of the building. The words of the original are—
" Ego Rogerus Dei gratia Cestrensis Episc. universis sanctse matris Ecclesise
filiis, &c. Salutem. Jesu Christi Creatoris nostri monitis—qui dixit.—Thesaurizate
vobis Thesauros in Ccelo, ubi neque ajrugo, neque Tinea demolitur, & Fures non
effodiunt nec furantur, &c. Hoc igitur intuitu (fratres charissimi) donamus, conce-
dimus, & in fundamentum Abbathise confirmamus Deo, & charissimo fratri nostro
Abbati Ingenulfo, & fratribus ejus, villam, nostram de Buldas, cum omnibus per-
tinentiis, &c."
As this charter is without date, some uncertainty occurs with respect to the exact
time of its execution ; but at whatever time that event took place, it may be fairly
imagined, from the tenor of the conclusion, that the society of monks was then
formed, and in all probability settled, in the new Monastery : and indeed it is more
consistent to suppose, that the Abbey was first built, and afterwards assigned to the
monks, than that they were first selected, and an abbey afterwards erected to receive
them. Besides, the simple designation of Ingenulfus, as Abbot, seems to imply that
be was Abbot of Buildwas, and not of any other convent; otherwise that circum-
stance would certainly have been specified. The words "in fundamentum abbathise,"
do not necessarily point out the grant to have preceded the erection of the abbey ;
for, by the same terms may be understood, either a donation for the purpose of
building a religious edifice, or a benefaction for the support of a previously esta-
blished monastery. In the latter sense, a second, third, fourth, and even fifth
founder, occur*
But what may perhaps be thought to afford more conclusive evidence, that the
supposed date in this charter is not the same with that of the foundation of Buildwas,
is the fact that in July, 1138, (only three years afterwards,) when King Stephen
attended at the siege of Shrewsbury, he granted to the monks of Buildwas a charter
°f confirmation, dedicated to " God and the Church of St. Chadd, at Buildwas, and
the Abbot and Monks of the order of St. Savigni, serving God therein,"—an ex-
pression, clearly shewing that the offices of devotion were then performed at the new
Monastery. The space of three years, however, is too short an interval to allow for
* Tanner. Notitia Monastica :—Shropshire. No. xviii.