Gilbert of Sempringham

Gilbert of Sempringham (c. 1085 – 4 February 1189) was an English Catholic who founded the Gilbertine Order. He was the only medieval Englishman to found a conventual order, mainly because the Cîteaux Abbey declined his request to assist him in organising a group of nuns living with lay brothers and sisters. He founded a double monastery of canons regular and nuns in spite of such a foundation being contrary to canonical practice.