3. THE MONASTERY OF BARROW
The ancient monastery 'Ad Baruae' in Lindsey was founded about the middle of the seventh
century; probably between 669 and 672, when
St. Chad was bishop of Lichfield, for traces of
his discipline remained there in the days of Bede. (fn. 1)
The land on which the monastery was built was
the gift of King Wulfhere (657-75), and was
sufficient to support fifty families; the rule it
followed was probably the same as that of the
more famous house at Lastingham. When
Wilfrid, bishop of Mercia, was deposed by Archbishop Theodore for some act of disobedience,
he took refuge at Barrow, and ended his days
there 'in all holy conversation.' (fn. 2)
This monastery was also destroyed by the
Danes and never rebuilt.
Footnotes
| 1 |
Bede, Eccles. Hist. (ed. Plummer), bk. iv, c. 3,
p. 207, 'In quo usque hodie instituta ab ipso
regularis vitae vestigia permanent.' |
| 2 |
Ibid. bk. iv, c. 6, p. 218. |