Priory of St Frideswide, Oxford
Encyclopedia
The priory of St Frideswide, Oxford was established as a priory
of Augustinian
canons regular
, in 1122. It was set up by Gwymund, chaplain
to Henry I of England
. It lasted to the 1520s, when it was dissolved by Cardinal Wolsey so that he could use its premises together with those of other adjacent religious houses to found a new college to be called Cardinal College. After Wolsey fell from power in 1530, King Henry VIII
took over the nascent foundation, which he renamed "Aedes Christi" Christ Church, Oxford
. The five western bays
of the nave
of the church of the Augustinian canons were demolished to make space to build the main quadrangle of the new college (now called Tom Quad): and 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 and the cathedral for the new Diocese of Oxford
which Henry VIII had separated from the Diocese of Lincoln
. (See Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
).
The original nunnery founded by Frideswide
was destroyed in 1002. After that there was a monastery of secular canons.
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
canons regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
, in 1122. It was set up by Gwymund, chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
. It lasted to the 1520s, when it was dissolved by Cardinal Wolsey so that he could use its premises together with those of other adjacent religious houses to found a new college to be called Cardinal College. After Wolsey fell from power in 1530, King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
took over the nascent foundation, which he renamed "Aedes Christi" Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. The five western bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of the church of the Augustinian canons were demolished to make space to build the main quadrangle of the new college (now called Tom Quad): and 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 and the cathedral for the new Diocese of Oxford
Diocese of Oxford
-History:The Diocese of Oxford was created in 1541 out of part of the Diocese of Lincoln.In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford...
which Henry VIII had separated from the Diocese of Lincoln
Diocese of Lincoln
The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire.- History :...
. (See Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
).
The original nunnery founded by Frideswide
Frideswide
Saint Frithuswith was an English princess and abbess who is credited with establishing Christ Church in Oxford.-Life:...
was destroyed in 1002. After that there was a monastery of secular canons.