THE RELIGIOUS HOUSES 

 OF DURHAM 



INTRODUCTION 



The great religious work carried on in the district now known as the 

 county of Durham during the seventh and eighth centuries under the 

 guidance of St. Aidan and his followers centred itself in the Saxon monas- 

 teries at Wearmouth and Jarrow, and in the smaller foundations of St. Hieu 

 and St. Hilda. These were the homes, not only of religion, but also of culture 

 and civilization, and their history so far as it is known is full of interest. 

 They were, however, almost completely swept away by the Danes in their 

 repeated invasions, and for some two hundred and fifty years the monastic life 

 almost ceased to exist in co. Durham, 



It was revived in 1073 by Aldwin, the Benedictine prior of Winch- 

 combe ; and ten years later the great Benedictine abbey of St. Cuthbert was 

 founded at Durham. Thenceforward that house dominated the entire 

 bishopric. As early as 1239 the Franciscans penetrated to Durham, but they 

 never attained to any degree of power or importance either there or at 

 Hartlepool. An attempt made at the end of the twelfth century to introduce 

 the Austin Canons resulted merely in the endowment of a cell to Durham at 

 Finchale ; and it is doubtful whether the Austin Friars ever obtained a 

 footing in the bishopric at all. Traces of the Dominicans are few and 

 uncertain. The only independent houses that really flourished were the small 

 Benedictine nunnery at Neasham, and the great hospitals under the bishop's 

 immediate control. These latter were, considering the size of the county, 

 very numerous, and some of them were wealthy. 



The enormous power and influence exercised by the monks of Durham 

 were no doubt largely due, at all events in the first instance, to their 

 possession of the remains of so eminent a saint as Cuthbert. As time went on 

 this effect might very possibly have worn off, had it not been for the curious, or 

 as it was then thought miraculous, preservation of the revered relics. When 

 after intervals of many years, sometimes even of centuries, the coffin was 

 opened and the saint's body discovered to be still intact, the impression of his 

 unusual sanctity was naturally deepened ; and awe-struck worshippers hastened 

 to pour their gifts at his shrine. So it came about that the temporal power 

 of the monks increased until their possessions rivalled even those of the great 

 prince-bishops themselves. It must, however, be said to their credit that 

 they do not appear to have become nearly so worldly as the religious of some 

 less famous houses ; and their worst enemies found very few charges to bring 

 against them as to their life and character. 



78 



