Today is the feast day of Gilbert of Sempringham. In 1131 Gilbert built a
simple range of buildings against the north wall of the church at Sempringham,
with accommodation for seven local women, who vowed to live a life of charity,
obedience, chastity, and humility. This was the beginning of the Gilbertine
Order, the only completely British monastic order during the Middle Ages. The
original monastic buildings proved inadequate, and in 1139 Gilbert received a
grant of land from Gilbert de Gant to erect a new priory about 350
yards away to the south west.
Here is an image of St Andrew's Sempringham, the church in question:
Gordon Plumb
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