Kyme Priory

Kyme Priory was a priory in South Kyme, Lincolnshire, England.

South Kyme Church - site of the Augustinian Priory of Kyme

The Augustinian Priory of Kyme^[1] was founded by Philip of Kyme, steward to Gilbert Earl of Lincoln, before 1169, in honour of the Blessed Mary, for about twelve Canons.^[2]

In 1377 Bishop Bokyngham held a visitation, and he found the canons were in the habit of serving their appropriate churches in person, and not by means of secular vicars, and their community life had suffered in consequence. The Bishop ordered that none of them should serve churches or take charge of granges distant from the monastery, in order that the divine office might be well sustained. They were forbidden to wear swords or any other weapons, or to have their habits unnecessarily ornamented.^[2] There are also injunctions as to going out without leave, eating and drinking outside the monastery, or entertaining friends too liberally within it.^[2] Similar injunctions were issued by Bishop Flemyng in 1422. An order was given by Bishop Repingdon in 1417 to bring back a canon who had gone without leave to join the Carmelites at Nottingham.^[2]

Bishop Alnwick's visitation in 1440 is preserved in full. The prior complained that his canons were too fond of idle sports. The cellarer complained that there were too many boys in the choir, which was a hindrance to the divine office: he said the infirmary was out of repair, and that the obedientiaries ate in the town of Kyme when they went there on business, and one canon hunted for his own profit. Others complained of the accumulation of offices in the hands of a few, and of the too free access of seculars to choir and refectory. The bishop dealt with all these points. The time spent in games should be given rather to contemplation, reading and study; seculars should be banished from choir and refectory, and the infirmary repaired.^[2]

In 1534 the clear revenue of the priory was £101 0s. 4d., including the churches of Kyme, Swarby, Ewerby, Osbournby, Metheringham, Thorpe near Wainfleet, Calceby, Croft, Northolme, and Wainfleet All Saints.^[2]

The canons of Kyme at the time of the first Act of Suppression loved their monastery and their religious life well enough to pay a heavy fine for continuance. Despite making only £200 a year, they paid an annual £200 fee to continue.^[2] The little priory survived until the Dissolution. The last Prior was Ralph Fairfax, who was elected in 1511, and the priory Surrender took place on 6 July 1539.^[2] It was given to the Earl of Rutland and Robert Tyrwhitt.^[3]

Saint Mary and All Saints Church, at South Kyme, formed the south aisle and part of the nave of the priory church. It was greatly altered and partly rebuilt in 1805.^[4] It is today a Grade II* listed building.^[5]

See also

• List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches

References

v t e Monasteries in Lincolnshire Augustinian Boston Austin Friars Bourne Abbey Elsham Priory Grimsby Abbey Grimsby Nunnery Grimsby Austin Friars Hough Priory Hirst Priory Kyme Priory Lincoln Austin Friars Markby Priory Newstead Priory Nocton Priory Stamford Austin Friars Thornholme Priory Thornton Abbey Thwaite Priory Torksey Priory Wilsford Priory Benedictine Alkborough Priory Bardney Abbey Barrow Monastery Bonby Priory Boston Priory Burwell Priory Covenham Priory Croyland Abbey Deeping St James Priory Freiston Priory Haugham Priory Henes Cell Humberston Abbey Ikanho monastery Lincoln - St. Mary Magdalen Priory Minting Priory North Hykeham Priory Partney Cell Repingas Monastery Sandtoft Priory Skendleby Priory Spalding Priory Stainfield Priory Stamford All Saints' College Stamford Cell in Burghley Park Stamford - St Leonard's Priory Stixwould Priory Stow Abbey Throckenholt Priory Wilsford Priory Winghale Priory Brothers of Penitence Lincoln Friars of the Sack Stamford Friars of the Sack Carmelite Boston Whitefriars Lincoln Whitefriars Stamford Whitefriars Carthusian Axholme Priory Haugham Priory Cistercian Bytham Abbey Cammeringham Priory Fosse Priory Gokewell Priory Great Limber Priory, Limber Magna Greenfield Priory Haverholme Priory Kirkstead Abbey Knaith Priory Legbourne Priory Long Bennington Priory Louth Park Abbey Nuncotham Priory Revesby Abbey Stixwould Priory Swineshead Abbey Vaudey Abbey Crutched Friars Whaplode Friary Dominican Boston Blackfriars Lincoln Blackfriars Stamford Blackfriars Franciscan Boston Greyfriars Grantham Greyfriars Grimsby Greyfriars Lincoln Greyfriars Stamford Greyfriars Gilbertine Alvingham Priory Bridge End Priory Bullington Priory Catley Priory Haverholme Priory Lincoln - St. Catherine's Priory Newstead-on-Ancholme Priory North Ormsby Priory Sempringham Priory Sixhills Priory Tunstall Priory Knights Hospitaller Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Great Limber Preceptory, Limber Magna Maltby Preceptory Skirbeck Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory Knights Templar Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Horkstow Camera Lincoln Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory Premonstratensian Barlings Abbey Broadholme Priory Cammeringham Priory Hagnaby Abbey Newbo Abbey Newsham Abbey Orford Priory Stixwould Priory Tupholme Abbey West Ravendale Priory Savigniac Revesby Abbey Swineshead Abbey Tironensian Humberston Abbey Independent Bardney Monastery Melwood Priory Partney Monastery Stamford Monastery St Æthelreda's nunnery, Stow Green Threekingham Nunnery

Coordinates: 53°01′57″N 0°15′32″W / 53.0326°N 0.2589°W / 53.0326; -0.2589