History Æbelholt Abbey

1 history

1.1 william of Æbelholt
1.2 later history
1.3 reformation in denmark

history
william of Æbelholt

the monastery first established on eskilsø island in roskilde fjord in 1104. while no remains of wooden abbey have survived, stone abbey church there still remains, though in ruins. 24 meters long , had nave, choir, , apse in romanesque style. monks became unruly , bishop absalon of roskilde, determined obtain new augustinian superior, sent friend, william, abbot of abbey of sainte-geneviève in paris. when william arrived in 1165 3 french canons there 6 religious left @ eskilsø, 2 of whom dismissed when refused submit new rule.

in 1167 abbey moved Æbelholt in tjæreby, supported donation of land absalon in tjæreby parish , endowed several income-producing farms, tithes many north zealand churches, , several mills. monastery on eskilsø closed. first church , abbey @ Æbelholt made of timber. construction began on new abbey church of limestone completed in 1210.

abbot william experienced considerable initial difficulties. 3 french canons returned paris, finding conditions in denmark bleak. few of danish canons plotted murder him when ordered eat herbs , leaves instead of usual meals. life of st. william notes of ways in considered killing him, either setting fire pile of straw near bed in dormitory, putting him in sack , drowning him, or taking axe him. william s piety, fairness, wisdom, , intelligence won them , local populace over. considered saint in own lifetime. highly regarded several kings of denmark , served intermediary between pope , danish monarchy.

abbot william died on 6 april 1203 @ age of 75. miracles @ grave , in connection relics brought pilgrims in great numbers, , abbey developed greatest augustinian house in north. 1210 list of miracles , signs recorded great archbishop of lund, anders sunesen, petitioned pope honorius iii canonization. in 1219 pope authorized several bishops investigate claims eye making william saint. result book life of abbot william submitted pope s consideration.

william canonised in 1224. on 16 june 1238 great ceremony william s body translated lie inside high altar in new abbey church. small separate chapel constructed on previous grave, pilgrims visit without disturbing monks. in time relics of saint william given roskilde cathedral, lund cathedral, church of our lady (vor frue kirke) , greyfriars church in copenhagen, , greyfriars church in roskilde.

later history

by 1230, monastery housed 25 canons regular, fed 100 persons daily. wide hospitality funded, abbey s other expenditures, revenues of estates, situated locally , in copenhagen , in halland, , dues nearby market. augustinians interested in farming , improving crops. hired lay brothers farm work , oversee temporal affairs of abbey.

the abbey complex consisted of quadrangular set of buildings church north range, round central cloister , cloister garth. buildings constructed of brick, common building material @ time. 1 of unusual parts of abbey lavatory had running water ditch, on possible mill stood.

the church expanded before 1324 longer nave, crossing, , choir apse. several side chapels added dedicated virgin mary, saint john baptist, saint john evangelist , saint george. high altar dedicated saint thomas.

reformation in denmark

after reformation in 1535 religious houses , income properties reverted crown. abbey church converted large parish church tjæreby , alsønderup parishes, while conventual , service buildings granted fief christoffer trundsen in 1544, provision should maintain last remaining canons under abbot anders ibsen. abbey formally dissolved in 1560; abbot ibsen sent carmelite priory in helsingør died year later.

in 1555 parishioners complained abbey church big maintain, , royal order demolish entire abbey complex given in 1561. parish churches @ tjæreby , alsønderup spared. of stone , brick reused construct nearby frederiksborg castle , in local farms.