Kirby Bellars Priory

Kirby Bellars Priory was a small

Wardens of the College[6]

• William Spigurnel, first warden, occurs 1319.
• John Cosyn.
• John of Kirby, died 1338.
• Edmund of Coston, presented 1338, died 1359.
• Roger Wiseman, presented and removed, 1359.

Augustinian Priory

In 1359 the college of secular clergy was transformed into a priory of

In 1363 the canons transferred control of All Saints Clipston in Northamptonshire to the

On the 26th of November 1440 the priory was visited by William Alnwick, Bishop of Lincoln.^[8] He found the standards kept there satisfactory, correcting only minor faults of dress and some mistakes in the church services. The members of the community comprised:

• Henry Dalby, prior.
• William Wylingtone, sub-prior.
• John Knyvet, canon, aged 54.
• William Burtone, canon, aged 40.
• William Shepeshede.
• Robert Halifax.
• Robert Kyrkeby.
• Richard Seusterne.
• John Pakyngtone.
• William Leycestre.
• Thomas Buckmynstre.
• William Cusyngtone.
• John Chippenham, canon, aged 44.

The Fire and Recovery

Sometime in the early 1500s the Priory was struck by fire which left many of its domestic buildings in ruins. In 1511 the prior and convent were authorized to give

A visitation record from Bishop of Lincoln's Commissary from 1518 suggested many of the buildings still needed repair at that time. The same report uncovered the scandal that the sub-prior had private property, that two of the canons were suspected of immorality, and that food provided for the canons was too luxurious. Another visitation report survives from 1528 and in 1535 the priory's annual revenue was recorded as a comparatively modest £140. That assessment comes the royal visitation report issued a year before the dissolution of Kirby Bellars by which time the domestic buildings were recorded as being in good order.^[10]

The Arms and Seal of the Priory of Saint Peter Kirkby upon the Wreak^[11]

In 1954 there were two 14th century seals of Kirby Bellars known to have survived. Both are the common oval variety known as Vescias. The larger of the two (63/38mm), the seal of the community, shows Saint Peter, wearing a Mitre and seated on a canopied throne. The Saints right hand is raised in blessing and he holds the keys in his left. In the lower part of the seal is a shield bearing the arms of Sir Roger Beler. The inscription reads: "S' ECCLESIE BEATI P . . . KIRKEBI SUPER WRETHEK" (or "THE HOLY CHURCH OF BLESSED PETER AT KIRKBY UPON THE WREAK"). The smaller one (35/25mm), the seal of the prior, shows a standing figure holding a staff and book, with the inscription: "SIGILLUM PRIORIS DE KIRKEBI" (or "THE PRIOR OF KIRKBY")

Priors of Kirkby upon the Wreak^[12]

• Roger of Cotes, appointed 1359.
• Alexander Thurgarton, occurs 1416, died 1418 or 1419.
• Henry Dalby, elected 1419, occurs to 1444.
• William Leicester, resigned 1461.
• William Burton, elected 1461, died 1480.
• William Kirby, elected 1480, died 1488.
• Richard Sewstern, elected 1488, died 1526.
• Thomas Kirby, elected 1526.
• William Kyrkeby, last prior, occurs 1534 and 1535.

Dissolution

The priory was dissolved in 1536 along with other small religious houses as part of the first wave of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Gallery

• 
  The south elevation.
• 
  The north elevation and site of the demolished north aisle.
• 
  The bell tower, note the niches on the west side for statues of saints.
• 
  The nave looking west
• 
  The blocked off north aisle from the south aisle.
• 
  Sanctuary and rood screen with congregation
• 
  The field to the north of Saint Peter's Church, the site of the domestic buildings of the Priory. There are two large parallel dug out earthworks in the middle of the field which putatively form the remains of a moated convent.^[13]

See also

• List of monastic houses in Leicestershire
• List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches

References