Priory of Plessis-Grimoult


The priory of Plessis-Grimoult is a twelfth-century French priory built by the "Order of the Regular Canons of St. Augustine" located in Le Plessis-Grimoult in the department of Calvados. It was listed as a national heritage site in 1928, and the nearby archaeological site and the remains of the fortified garden were listed in 1996.

History

Establishment

In 1047 the local baron, Grimoult of Plessis was executed for an attempted coup against the Duke of Normandy and his lands were given to the duke's half brother, the Bishop of Bayeaux, to become part of his diocese. In 1131 the local church was dedicated to Saint Stephen.
Around 1135, William the Conquerer's former chaplain, Richard Samson, was the local priest. He brought a community of Canons regular to Plessis-Grimoult and in so doing became the first Prior there. The canons lived in Samson's own presbytery at that time. In 1153 under Samson's successor, the cannons moved to Champ Osburt. Under Prior Henri I the canons moved to the Chateau de Vire. The church building and priory in its current location were built in the late 13 century under the direction of Prior Guillaume Causson, Henri I's successor. Only the priory's entryway remains standing today.

Under Bossuet

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet became the tutor to the Grand Dauphin in 1671. The time his new position required him to spend at court meant he could no longer serve as Bishop of Condom. Because of this he lost access to all the monetary benefits he was entitled to as Bishop and could not afford to live the lavish lifestyle that came with living at court. To compensate his son's tutor, Louis XIV appointed him to be the prior of Plessis-Grimoult. This provided Bossuet with a steady income, without requiring too much of his time.
During his time as prior he had a dispute with Julian de Saint-Germain, the priest of Maisoncelles-la-Jourdain, over the collection of tithes. There was a trial on the 18th of August, 1677 which found that Saint-Germain had to pay Bossuet an annual sum of 230 livres in exchange for Bossuet giving up his right to collect tithes in Maisoncelles.

Priors

The Priory had 35 Priors from its founding to the nationalization of church property during the French Revolution.

No.NameYears in officeNotes
1Richard Samson~1135-1153Founder.
2Nicholas Coquin 1153-1190Moved priory to Champ Osburt
3Étienne I1193-Unknown
4RadulpheUnknown-1210Distant relative of Baron Grimoult
5Guillame I1210-1234
6Pierre de la Barre 1234-1250
7Henri1250-UnknownMoved Priory to the Chateau de Vire
8Guillaume Causson Unknown-1290Built the Church and the Priory's entryway
9Richard le Moine 1290-1314
10Guillaume Pinçon 1314-1340
11Guillaume de Canteil 1340-1369Reduced the number of canons from fifty-six to forty-five
12Jean Maufras 1370-1398
13Pierre de Missy 1398-1400
14Matthieu de Chaumoncel1400-1412
15Guillaume de l'Orme 1412-1433
16Jean Marivint 1433-1457Buried in the Church
17Pierre de Missy 1470-1477
18Bertin Marvint1477-1480Nephew of Jean Marvint
19Gabriel le Veneur1480-1523
20Nicholas de Saint-Germain 1523-1543Uncle of the next Prior
21Guillaume de Saint-Germain 1543-1582During his Priorship Calvinists burned down most of the Priory
22Robert Maunoury1582
23Francois de Lusignan1582-1592
24Louis Cochu1592-1604
25Jean le Bel, or le Bel de Nantes1605-Unknown
26François de Montmorency 1612-1618Beheaded in 1627 because he broke the law against dueling
27Louis de Montmorency 1618Brother of the previous
28Étienne le Berger 1618-1625
29Georges du Fay1625-1651
30Jaques de Matignon1652-1670
31Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet1671-1704Tutor to the eldest son of Louis XIV
32Marie-Joseph d'Hostung1704-1706
33Léonor Goyon de Matignon1706-1757Cousin of Jacques I, Prince of Monaco
34M. Lemercier1757-1787
35Louis-François de Berton du Prat1787-1789Last Prior of Plessis-Grimoult

Architecture

In 1830 the building consisted of a transept terminating in an apse. There were several columns with capitals which dated back to the 13th century. The choir was older than the tower. The roof was non-existent by 1830, having most likely been made of wood. The western wall of the cloister was still standing. Two doors open on the gallery of the cloister, the capitals of the columns are from the end of the 14th or 15th century. In the other rooms on the ground floor, the eight-sided columns have capitals that are perhaps from the 14th century. There is a beautiful fireplace in a room that is believed to be the kitchen. Gardens and ponds are farther to the east. To the west of the outer courtyard of the priory, there is a doorway that dates to about the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

Parishes Served

The priory served the parishes of Plessis, Roullours, Carville, Chênedollé, Truttemer-le-Grand, Montsecret, Sainte-Honorine-la-Chardonne, Saint-Jean-le-Blanc, Campandré, Monchauvet, Frênes, Saint-Vigor-des-Mézerets, Périgny, Cauville, Proussy, Bernières-le-Patry, Maisoncelles-la-Jourdan, Estry, Saint-Christophe-de-Chaulieu, Beauchêne, Clairefougère, Saint-Cornier-des-Landes, Saint-Jean-des-Bois, Saint-Quentin-les-Chardonnets, Yvrandes, Bonnemaison, Courvaudon, Feuguerolles-Bully, Fontaine-Étoupefour, Rosel, La Cambe, Osmanville, Mondrainville, Noyers-Bocage, Planquery, Saint-Germain-d'Elle, Bretteville-le-Rabet, Campeaux, and Colombelles.