DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0045
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 13
indebted to Albinus, Abbot of St. Austin's, in Canterbury, and Nothelmus,
afterwards archbishop of that see, but at that time a presbyter in London, for
furnishing him with such material information in. the progress of it. He also
particularly exemplifies the princes and persons by whom, and in whose reigns,
Christianity was planted in the East Saxon and other kingdoms : nor does he pay
less attention to the establishment of several of our monasteries; and among the
rest, those of Chertsey and Barking, by Erkenwrald, Bishop of London. In short,
is it probable, nay, is it possible, that Bede, considering his character, the nature
of his enquiries, and the means of information which he possessed, should not
know of such a monastic establishment as the Church of Westminster, had it then
existed ; and knowing it, that he should have passed it over in silence T,
This objection is also considerably strengthened, if additional argument were
necessary, by two old charters still remaining in the archives of this church. One
of King Offa, in the year 785, and the other of King Edgar, about the year 960,
which are altogether silent as to the foundation of the church by King Sebert, or
in his time; which would not have been the case had it been known, or even ge-
nerally believed, to be true.
That King Sebert, therefore, or any other person in his reign, was the founder
of this church, though a received, appears to be an erroneous, opinion. The most
rational conjecture on the subject, for we must be content without any deci-
sive proof, is this:—that the foundation of the Church of Westminster took
place about the time of venerable Bede's death, or between the years 730 and
740, about one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and thirty,, years sub-
sequent to the period which has been generally received, and is but a small intru-
sion on the antiquity of this monastic establishment.
Such an opinion seems to receive a reasonable confirmation from the date of
Offa's charter, in the year 785, in which the Monastery of Westminster is
indebted to Albinus, Abbot of St. Austin's, in Canterbury, and Nothelmus,
afterwards archbishop of that see, but at that time a presbyter in London, for
furnishing him with such material information in. the progress of it. He also
particularly exemplifies the princes and persons by whom, and in whose reigns,
Christianity was planted in the East Saxon and other kingdoms : nor does he pay
less attention to the establishment of several of our monasteries; and among the
rest, those of Chertsey and Barking, by Erkenwrald, Bishop of London. In short,
is it probable, nay, is it possible, that Bede, considering his character, the nature
of his enquiries, and the means of information which he possessed, should not
know of such a monastic establishment as the Church of Westminster, had it then
existed ; and knowing it, that he should have passed it over in silence T,
This objection is also considerably strengthened, if additional argument were
necessary, by two old charters still remaining in the archives of this church. One
of King Offa, in the year 785, and the other of King Edgar, about the year 960,
which are altogether silent as to the foundation of the church by King Sebert, or
in his time; which would not have been the case had it been known, or even ge-
nerally believed, to be true.
That King Sebert, therefore, or any other person in his reign, was the founder
of this church, though a received, appears to be an erroneous, opinion. The most
rational conjecture on the subject, for we must be content without any deci-
sive proof, is this:—that the foundation of the Church of Westminster took
place about the time of venerable Bede's death, or between the years 730 and
740, about one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and thirty,, years sub-
sequent to the period which has been generally received, and is but a small intru-
sion on the antiquity of this monastic establishment.
Such an opinion seems to receive a reasonable confirmation from the date of
Offa's charter, in the year 785, in which the Monastery of Westminster is