Early Mediaeval Religious Orders

ORDER

FOUNDED

COMMENTS

BENEDICTINE (BLACK MONKS) #

6 th. CENT

First English Monastery founded by St. Augustine ^ at Canterbury in 597 (q.v.)

CLUNIAC ( STRICTER BENEDICTINE ) #

910

Founded at Cluny , France

CARTHUSIAN #

1084

Founded by St Bruno

Intro. To England in 1178

CISTERCIAN (WHITE MONKS) # Founded by St. Robert of Molesme

1098

Intro.to England by Stephen Harding & in France by St. Bernard of Citeaux

CANONS OF St. AUGUSTINE *

(BLACK CANONS)

c. 1100

A community of Priests, rather than Monks

GILBERTINE * (The TRINITARIANS were a similar Augustinian 'spin-off' order.)

c. 1100

Founded by Gilbert, a Lincoln-shire priest for both nuns & monks (separate cloisters!)

PREMONSTRATENSIAN *

(WHITE CANONS)

1120

Founded by St. Norbert in 1120 A stricter branch of August-inian Canons. (from Premontre Fr.)

FRANCISCAN (GREY FRIARS or MINORITES - Friars Minor) +

1209

Founded by St. Francis of Assisi

DOMINICAN * (BLACK FRIARS or JACOBINS)

1215

The leading movers in the INQUISITION in later years.

AUGUSTINIAN *FRIARS/HERMITS

13 th. CENT

 

CARMELITE (WHITE FRIARS)

(1155)

Founded by Bertwold -introd'd to England 13 th. CENT.

SERVITE

No data

No data as yet

CAPUCHIN (Franciscan sub-order) +

1529

Known for extreme poverty & learning, they were known by their beards & hooded cloaks.

JESUITS

1534

Founded by Ignatius Loyola

DISCALCED CARMELITE

1562

 

TRAPPIST (CISTERCIAN) X #

17 th.CENT

 

SALESIAN

Post 17 th.C

Teaching Order

ROSMINIAN

- " -

Teaching Order

Other later orders include The THEATINES (f.1524), The PAULINES began meeting in c.1530's (renamed Barnabites, 1545) & the SOMASCHI, formed 1540 and became an order in 1568.

*These Orders follow the Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430)

#These Orders follow the Rule of St. Benedict (a.d.537) or St. Francis +

^Not to be confused with St. Augustine of Hippo (above)

Besides Monasteries there were about 130 nunneries in England (post-conquest), many of them small and poor. Two thirds were Benedictine, with 28 Cistercian, about 20 Augustinian, a couple of Cluniac, and 20 or so "double houses" of Gilbertines. Highlighted Orders are known as MENDICANT ORDERS.