Site details: St Clears - Monastic Wales - A Comprehensive Database of Sites and Sources


Home Project team Future plans Contact us Search the database Browse list of sites Browse list of orders Browse bibliography & archives Browse people Browse articles Glossary of terms Monastic Wales is not responsible for the content of external internet sites	Display site: St Clears (Priory) Order: Cluniac St Clears was founded as an alien cell of St Martin des Champs, Paris, but the founder is not now known. Since 1920 the Church in Wales has been responsible for appointing the vicars of St Clears. show more... Standing remains None of the claustral buildings survives but the monastic chancel arch, with its fine capitals, is preserved in the parish church. In the Middle Ages this was the priory church which also served the parish, with the monks occupying the east and the laity the nave. The chancel arch separated the two. A thirteenth-century tower also remains. Dedicated to: St Clarus and Mary Magdalene Medieval Diocese: St David's Affiliated to: St Martin des Champs, Paris (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Mortimer Access: Parish church open to public Owned by: Representative Body of the Church in Wales Main events in the history of this site 1147-1184: Foundation - The priory was founded in the second half of the twelfth century. [1 source] 1279: Monastic observance - The prior of St Clears was sumoned to Barnstaple Priory, another of St Martin's dependencies, to answer questions regarding the state of monastic observance. [2 sources] 1288: Debts - The prior of St Clears (William Arraines) reputedly absconded with debts outstanding to the bishop of St David’s who duly seized the priory. [3 sources] c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio the house had only twelve acres of arable land and its spiritualities and temporalities totalled £15 19s 2d. [2 sources] 1294x1414: Custody - During these years the house was generally in royal custody. [2 sources][1 archive] 1305: Wealth - The royal officials valued the cell at £8 10s [1 source][1 archive] c.1333: Resignation - By September 1333 John Seyer had resigned as prior of St Clears on account of his dissolute conduct. [1 source] 1339: Custody - On 16 July 1339, Pontius, a monk of St Clears, was granted the keeping of St Clears during the French Wars. [1 source] 1377: Poll tax - Only the prior is listed. [1 source][1 archive] 1378-1409: Papal Schism - Contact between Cluny and her houses in England and Wales was severed. [1 source] 1378: Valuation - By 1378 the value of the priory had increased to £19 6s 8d. [1 archive] c.1414: Dissolution - St Clears was dissolved c. 1414. [1 source] 1442: Custody - St Clears was granted to All Souls College, Oxford [1 source] + 10 minor events. Show minor events People associated with this site Priors of St Clears Bibliographical sources 14 Printed sources show sources 'The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales III, 1377-1540' ed.David M. Smith(Cambridge 2008) pp. 254-255 'The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales II, 1216-1377' ed.David M. Smith and Vera London(Cambridge 2001) pp. 249-50 'Monasticon Cluniacense Anglicanum or Charters and Records of the Ancient Abbey of Cluni 1077-1534' 2 vols ed.G. F. Duckett(Lewes 1888) 'Visitations and Chapters General of the Order of Cluni 1269-1529' ed.G. F. Duckett(1863) 'Visitations of English Cluniac Foundations in 47 Henry III (1262), 4 Edward I (1275-6), 7 Edward 1 (1279)' London ed.George F. Duckett(1890) 'Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales' ed.R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles(Harlow 1971) p. 102 Cooper, R., 'Abbeys and Priories of Wales' (Swansea 1992) p. 95 Cowley, F. G., 'The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349' (Cardiff 1977) Graham, Rose, 'The Cluniac priory of St Martin des Champs, Paris, and its dependent priories in England and Wales' Journal of the British Archaeological Association 3rd series 11 (1948) pp.35-59 James, Terrence, 'Carmarthenshire's religious houses : a review of recent archaeological work' The Carmarthenshire Antiquary 36 (2000) pp.58-70 Smallwood, T. M., 'The date of the Gough Map' Imago Mundi 62 (2010) pp.3–29 Stöber, Karen, 'Social networks of late medieval Welsh monasteries' Monasteries and Society in the Later Middle Ages Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 35 ed.Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (Woodbridge 2008) pp.12-24 Thomas, D. A., 'St. Clears in the Middle Ages, 1100-1500' Carmarthenshire Historian 6 (1969) pp.59-71 Thurlby, Malcolm, 'Romanesque Architecture and Sculpture in Wales' (Little Logaston 2006) pp. 133-134 2 On-line sources show online sources (all open in new window) Website of the Priory Church of St Mary Magdalene, St Clears (View website) St Mary Magdalene Church, St Clears - Coflein database (View website) Archival sources The National Archives, 'Exchequer, King's Remembrancer Clerical Subsidies - St Clears 1377', (Document), (View website) The National Archives, 'Writ and inquisition relating to priory of St Clears', (Document), (View website) Related articles on Monastic Wales The Cluniacs in Wales: Malpas and St Clears, Christopher Pearce Who were the Benedictines?, Professor Janet Burton Who were the Cluniacs?, Christopher Pearce Images of this site Capitals on the chancel arch, priory church of St Mary Magdalene Chancel arch, priory church of St Mary Magdalene Priory Church of St Mary Magdalene	Chancel arch, priory church of St Mary Magdalene Carmarthenshire, OS Grid:SN28151574 View site details on COFLEIN (RCAHMW database)[new window]

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