Holy Trinity Priory

The Holy Trinity Priory was a priory of Austin canons founded around 1108 by Queen Matilda of England, wife of King Henry I near Aldgate in London. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35357 'Austin canons: Priory of Holy Trinity or Christchurch, Aldgate' "A History of the County of London: Volume 1: London within the Bars, Westminster and Southwark" (1909), pp. 465-475] Accessed November 13, 2007] Burton "Monastic and Religious Orders" p. 46] The queen received advice and help in the foundation from Anselm of Canterbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was founded with clergy from Colchester, and the first prior was Norman, who was the queen's confessor. By 1115, the entire "soke", or liberty of East Smithfield (including the ward of Portsoken) was given by the "Knighten Guilde" to the church of Holy Trinity within Aldgate. The prior of the Abbey was then to sit as an "ex officio" Alderman of London.Allen, Thomas "The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and parts adjacent" pp.709–712 (George Virtue, 1839)] In the Twelfth century the priory had a reputation as a center of learning under Peter of Cornwall, who was the prior.

The priory was dissolved in February of 1532 when it was given back to King Henry VIII of England. The buildings and land associated with the priory were given, or sold, to prominent courtiers and City merchants. None of the buildings survive today except for some pointed arches within the office building on the corner of Aldgate and Mitre Street. Mitre Street itself follows roughly the line of the nave of the priory church, while Mitre Square corresponds roughly with the former cloister.

Priors

Some of the priors of this house include:

* Norman d. 1147- a student of Saint Anselm of Canterbury
* Ralph d. 1167
* William
* Peter de Cornwall
* Richard de Temple
* John de Toking
* Eustace prior from 1264 to 1280
* William Aygnel
* Nicholas Hancocke

References

Bibliography

*