Abbey of St John the Baptist, Falaise


The Abbey of St John the Baptist, in the diocese of Séez, in Falaise, Normandy, was an Augustinian abbey for Premonstratensian Canons and hospital founded in 1127 by Goinfrid,.

Founding

A pilgrim had died of hunger and exhaustion having taken shelter in a barn belonging to Goinfrid, son of Roger or Rou, and when the dead body was discovered the next morning the population of the town of Falaise was much saddened. Goinfrid decided to found on the site a hospital to care for such pilgrims, and this was founded in 1127 under the name of the "Hospital of St Michael". In 1130 a papal bull confirming the foundation was given at Rouen, capital of Normandy, by Pope Innocent II, with the express consent of King Henry I of England. In 1133 the Hospital was re-dedicated to St John the Baptist and a new church was built on the site.

Donations by Henry I of England

King Henry I of England made two donations to this institution at the time of its re-founding, in 1132 and 1133:

1132 charter

King Henry I's Latin charter of 1132 is summarised as follows in English:

1133 charter

King Henry I's Latin charter of 1133 is summarised as follows in English:

Later confirmations

Confirmations of Henry I's grants were made by his descendants King Henry II and by his son King John. In 1157 Henry II of England confirmed the use of "whatever they need in his wood of Gufern at Argentan for firing and building", as well as permission for an annual fair at Michaelmas.