Missing imageCrowland_abbey.jpg Crowland Abbey
, in
Lincolnshire, was originally founded in the
8th century, and is dedicated to
Saint Mary the Virgin,
Saint Bartholomew and
Saint Guthlac. In about the 10th century, it came under the
Benedictine rule. Part of the
abbey church is still in use as the
parish church.
Crowland is well known to historians as the probable home of the
Croyland Chronicle, begun by one of its
monks and continued by several other hands. In
1537, the
abbot of Crowland wrote to
Thomas Cromwell, sending him a gift of fish: "ryght mekely besechyng yow lordship favorablye to accepte the same fyshe, and to be gud and favorable lorde unto me and my pore house". Despite these representations, the abbey was
dissolved in
1539.
One of the religious relics that the abbey contains is the skull of the 9th century Abbot Saint Theodore which used to be on public display until it was stolen from its display case in 1982. The skull was later returned anonymously in 1999.
The abbey is also known for being the subject of a John Clare sonnet.
It should not be confused with Croyland Abbey in the town of Wellingborough.
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