medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I think it was Frank who was asking recently about what happened to
retired priests in the Middle Ages. As so often seems to happen, I just
happened to read something that might be of interest, in Carol
Rawcliffe's Medicine for the Soul, pp. 27-28. St Richard of Chichester
died in 1253 before his plans for an almshouse for infirm and elderly
priests at Windham in Sussex could be fully implemented, and Gauthier de
Marvis, bishop of Tournai, had established a hospital for elderly clergy
by the 1240s. Such hospices for retired clergy were apparently
appearing generally at that time, and existing institutions also began
occasionally to reserve a few beds for retired priests. It would appear
that much of this effort was directed, however, at unbeneficed priests.
There is no specific mention, in any case, of parish priests. A couple
of articles that might be relevant are referred to:
N. Orme, "Sufferings of the Clergy: Illness and Old Age in Exeter
Diocese 1300-1540," in M. Pelling and R.M. Smith, eds, Life, Death and
the Elderly (London, 1991), pp. 62-73
N. Orme, "A Medieval Almshouse for the Clergy: Clyst Gabriel Hospital
near Exeter," Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 39 (1988), 1-15
Cheers,
Jim
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