Bec Abbey, formally the Abbey of Our Lady of Bec (french: Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec), is a

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

monastic foundation in the Eure ''

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level (" territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. Ninety ...

'', in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay. It is located in Le Bec Hellouin,

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, and was the most influential

abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The con ...

of the 12th-century

Anglo Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to, or descent from, the Angles, England, English culture, the English people or the English language, such as in the term ''Anglosphere''. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to peopl ...

- Norman kingdom. Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals of the house but uniquely its first abbots also received individual biographies, brought together by the monk of Bec, Milo Crispin. Because of the abbey's cross-Channel influence, these hagiographic lives sometimes disclose historical information of more than local importance. Seal Abbaye du Bec

Name

The name of the abbey derives from the bec, or stream, that runs nearby. The word derives from the Scandinavian root, ''bekkr''.

First foundation

The abbey was founded in 1034 by Saint Herluin, whose

life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for Cell growth, growth, reaction to Stimu ...

was written by

Gilbert Crispin Gilbert Crispin ( 1055 – 1117) was a Christian author and Anglo-Norman monk, appointed by Archbishop Lanfranc in 1085 to be the abbot, proctor and servant of Westminster Abbey, England. Gilbert became the third Norman Abbot of Westminster to ...

Abbot of Westminster The Abbot of Westminster was the head (abbot) of Westminster Abbey. List Notes ReferencesTudorplace.com.ar
{Unreliable source?, certain=y, reason=self published website; and Jorge H. Castelli is not an expert, date=January 2015 Abbots of W ...

, formerly of Bec, and collated with three other lives by Milo Crispin. Abbey construction began in 1034 and continued through 1035. Further lands were added through 1040. Saint Herluin was a

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

knight who in about 1031 left the court of

Gilbert, Count of Brionne Gilbert (or Giselbert) de Brionne, Count of Eu and of Brionne ( – ), was an influential nobleman in the Duchy of Normandy in Northern France.Robinson, J. A. (1911). Gilbert Crispin, abbot of Westminster: a study of the abbey under Norman ru ...

, to devote himself to a life of religion: the ''

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

'' of Le Bec Hellouin preserves his name. One hundred and thirty-six monks made their profession while Herluin was in charge. With the arrival of

Lanfranc of Pavia Lanfranc, OSB (1005 1010 – 24 May 1089) was a celebrated Italian jurist who renounced his career to become a Benedictine monk at Bec in Normandy. He served successively as prior of Bec Abbey and abbot of St Stephen in Normandy and then ...

, Bec became a focus of 11th century intellectual life. Lanfranc, who was already famous for his lectures at Avranches, came to teach as prior and master of the monastic school, but left in 1062, to become abbot of St. Stephen's Abbey, Caen, and later Archbishop of Canterbury. He was followed as abbot by Anselm, also later an Archbishop of Canterbury, as was the fifth abbot,

Theobald of Bec Theobald of Bec ( c. 1090 – 18 April 1161) was a Norman archbishop of Canterbury from 1139 to 1161. His exact birth date is unknown. Some time in the late 11th or early 12th century Theobald became a monk at the Abbey of Bec, risi ...

. Many distinguished ecclesiastics, probably including the future Pope Alexander II and Saint Ivo of Chartres, were educated in the school at Bec. The life of the founder (''Vita Herluini'') was written by

. Archbishop Lanfranc also wrote a ''Chronicon Beccense'' of the life of Herlui. Milo Crispin's biography of the first four abbots was published at Paris in 1648. The followers of

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...

supported the abbey, enriching it with extensive properties in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. Bec also owned and managed St Neots Priory as well as a number of other British foundations, including Goldcliff Priory in Monmouthshire founded in 1113 by Robert de Chandos. The village of

Tooting Bec Tooting Bec is in the London Borough of Wandsworth, south London, England. History Tooting Bec appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as "Totinges". It was held partly by St Mary de Bec-Hellouin Abbey and partly by Westminster Abbey. Its domesday ass ...

, now a London suburb, is so named because the abbey owned the land. Bec Abbey was the original burial place of the Empress Matilda, whose bones were later transferred to

Rouen Cathedral Rouen Cathedral (french: Cathédrale primatiale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Rouen) is a Roman Catholic church in Rouen, Normandy, France. It is the see of the Archbishop of Rouen, Primate of Normandy. It is famous for its three towers, each i ...

. Bec Abbey was damaged during the

Wars of Religion A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war ( la, sanctum bellum), is a war which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent to wh ...

and left a ruin in the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...

but the 15th-century St. Nicholas Tower (') from the medieval monastery is still standing.

Second foundation

In 1948 the site was re-settled as the ''Abbaye de Notre-Dame du Bec'' by

Olivetan The Olivetans, formally known as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order. They were founded in 1313 and recognised in 1344. They use the Rule of Saint Benedict and are a member of the Benedictine Confederation, where they ar ...

monks led by Dom Grammont, who effected some restorations. The abbey is known for its links with Anglicanism and has been visited by successive archbishops of Canterbury. The abbey library contains the John Graham Bishop deposit of 5,000 works concerning Anglicanism. Today the Abbey is probably best known for the pottery the monks produce. Image:Abbaye du Bec église abbatiale.jpg, Abbey church Image:Aussenansicht der Abtei Le Bec.jpg, Residential building File:Abbaye_Notre-Dame_du_Bec_R04.jpg, Tour Saint-Nicolas Image:Abbaye du Bec tour S Nicolas closer2.jpg, Close-up of the Tour Saint-Nicolas Image:Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin - Le cloître.jpg, Cloister File:Sarcophages.jpg, Sarcophagi in the park of the abbey File:Moine de l'abbaye du Bec-Hellouni.jpg , Morning in the abbey grounds

List of abbots

The following is a list of the abbots: * 1034–1078: Herluin (or Hellouin) * 1078–1093: Anselm (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) * 1093–1124: Guillaume de Montfort-sur-Risle * 1124–1136: Boson * 1136–1138:

Theobald Theobald is a Germanic dithematic name, composed from the elements '' theod-'' "people" and ''bald'' "bold". The name arrived in England with the Normans. The name occurs in many spelling variations, including Theudebald, Diepold, Theobalt, Tyb ...

(afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) * 1139–1149: Létard * 1149–1179:

Roger de Bailleul Roger de Bailleul (; died 25 September 1179) was a medieval Benedictine monk, Bec Abbey, abbot of Bec, and List of Archbishops of Canterbury, archbishop-elect of Canterbury. Roger was born in Lombardy, but according to the Gallia Christiana he wa ...

(elected archbishop of Canterbury, but declined the position) * 1179–1187: Osbern * 1187–1194: Roger II * 1195–1197: Gauthier * 1197–1198: Hugues de Cauquainvilliers * 1198–1211: Guillaume Le Petit * 1211–1223: Richard de Saint-Léger ''alias'' de Bellevue (afterwards

bishop of Évreux A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...

) * 1223–1247: Henri de Saint-Léger * 1247–1265: Robert de Clairbec * 1265–1272: Jean de Guineville * 1272–1281: Pierre de la Cambe * 1281–1304: Ymer de Saint-Ymer * 1304–1327: Gilbert de Saint-Étienne * 1327–1335: Geoffroy Faé (afterwards Bishop of Évreux) * 1335–1351: Jean des Granges * 1351–1361: Robert de Rotes ''alias'' Couraye * 1361–1388: Guillaume de Beuzeville ''alias'' Popeline * 1388–1391: Estout d’Estouteville * 1391–1399: Geoffroy Harenc * 1399–1418: Guillaume d’Auvillars * 1418–1430: Robert Vallée * 1430–1446: Thomas Frique * 1446–1452: Jean de La Motte * 1452–1476: Geoffroy d’Épaignes * 1476–1484: Jean Boucard * 1484–1491: Robert d’Évreux * 1491–1515: Guillaume Guérin * 1515–1515: Jean Ribault * 1515–1520: Adrien Gouffier de Boissy (created cardinal in 1515, also

bishop of Coutances The Roman Catholic Diocese of Coutances (–Avranches) (Latin: ''Dioecesis Constantiensis (–Abrincensis)''; French: ''Diocèse de Coutances (–Avranches)'') is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Its mother church is the Cathe ...

and the administrator of the see of Albi) * 1520–1533: Jean d'Orléans-Longueville (also archbishop of Toulouse and

bishop of Orléans A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

, created cardinal in 1533) * 1534–1543:

Jean Le Veneur Jean Le Veneur (died 8 August 1543), son of a Norman baron, was a French Abbot, Bishop, Courtier, royal official, and Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography He was born into a noble family of Normandy. He was the second son of Philippe, baron of Till ...

(also

Bishop of Lisieux A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

) * 1544–1557:

Jacques d'Annebaut Jacques d'Annebaut (Denebaud, Anebault and Annebault) (died 1557) was a French cardinal. He was a cousin of Jean Le Veneur (their mothers Marie and Marguerite Blosset were sisters), and brother of Claude d'Annebault, marshal of France. He beca ...

(created cardinal in 1544, also Bishop of Lisieux) * 1558–1572: Louis de Lorraine (created cardinal in 1553, also successively bishop of Troyes, archbishop of Sens and

bishop of Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...

) * 1572–1591: Claude de Lorraine * 1591–1597: Emeric de Vic * 1597–1661: Dominique de Vic (also

archbishop of Auch The Archdiocese of Auch-Condom-Lectoure-Lombez (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Auxitana-Condomiensis-Lectoriensis-Lomberiensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse d'Auch-Condom-Lectoure-Lombez''), more commonly known as the Archdiocese of Auch, is a Latin Church ...

) * 1661–1664: ''vacant'' * 1664–1707:

Jacques-Nicolas Colbert Jacques-Nicolas Colbert (14 February 1655, in Paris – 10 December 1707, in Paris) was a French churchman. Youngest son of Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, he was educated for a career in the church, tutored by Noël Alexandre, a Dominican the ...

(also

archbishop of Rouen The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rouen (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rothomagensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rouen'') is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the Arch ...

) * 1707–1717: Roger de La Rochefoucauld * 1717–1771: Louis de Bourbon-Condé * 1771–1782: ''vacant'' * 1782–1790: Yves-Alexandre de Marbeuf (also bishop of Autun, later

archbishop of Lyon The Archdiocese of Lyon (Latin: ''Archidiœcesis Lugdunensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Lyon''), formerly the Archdiocese of Lyon–Vienne–Embrun, is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The Archbishops o ...

) * 1790–1948: ''vacant'' * 1948–1986: * 1988–1990: Philippe Aubin * 1990–1996: Philibert Zobel * 1996–2020: Paul-Emmanuel Clénet

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

* Anonymous. ''Chronique du Bec et Chronique de François Carré'' (ed. A.-A. Porée). Rouen: Meétŕie, 1883. * Anonymous. ''De libertate Beccensis monasterii''. In

Giles Constable Giles Constable (1 June 1929 – 17 January 2021) was a historian of the Middle Ages. Constable was mainly interested in the religion and culture of the 11th and 12th centuries, in particular the abbey of Cluny and its abbot Peter the Vener ...

(ed.) and Bernard S. Smith (trans.), ''Three Treatises from Bec on the Nature of Monastic Life''. Toronto: Univ. of Toronto Press, 2008. * Anselm. ''Sancti Anselmi Cantuariensis archiepiscopi Opera Omnia'' (ed. F.S. Schmitt). Stuttgart: Frommann, 1968. * Chibnall, Marjorie. ''The English Lands of the Abbey of Bec''. Oxford: OUP, 1968

946 Year 946 (Roman numerals, CMXLVI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – King Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I invades the West Fr ...

* Crouch, David. ''The Beaumont Twins: The Roots and Branches of Power in the Twelfth Century''. Cambridge: CUP, 1986. * Gazeau, Véronique. “From Bec to Canterbury: Between Cloister and World, the Legacy of Anselm, a ''personne d’autorité''.” In Giles E.M. Gasper and Ian Logan (edd.), ''Saint Anselm of Canterbury and His Legacy''. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2012. * Milo Crispin, "Vita venerabilis Willelmi abbatis Beccensis tertii." In '' Patrologia Latina'', vol. 150, coll. 713-724. * Orderic Vitalis, ''The Ecclesiastical History'' (ed. M. Chibnall). Oxford: OUP, 1969 (vols. 1-2) and 1975 (vols. 3-4). * Pohl, Benjamin and Laura Gathagan (edd.). ''A Companion to the Abbey of Le Bec in the Middle Ages''. Leiden: Brill, forthcoming. * Porée, Adolphe-André. ''Histoire de l’abbaye du Bec''. Évreux: Hérissey, 1901. * Vaughn, Salley. ''Anselm of Bec and Robert of Meulan: The Innocence of the Dove and the Wisdom of the Serpent''. Berkeley: Univ. Calif. Press, 1987. * .

External links

*
Abbaye de Notre-Dame du Bec: official website

Le Bec Hellouin: official website
*
gite site with details and photos
* {{Authority control Benedictine monasteries in France 1034 establishments in Europe 1030s establishments in France Buildings and structures in Eure Christian monasteries established in the 11th century Churches in Eure Monuments of the Centre des monuments nationaux