Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The impulse: what prompted monastic hospitality?
- Chapter 2 The administrative structure
- Chapter 3 The reception of guests
- Chapter 4 Provision for guests: body and soul
- Chapter 5 Provision for guests: entertainment and interaction
- Chapter 6 The financial implications of hospitality
- Conclusion
- Appendix 1 Jocelin of Brakelond, monk of Bury St Edmunds
- Appendix 2 The Waterworks Plan of Christ Church, Canterbury
- Bibliography
- Index
- Other volumes in Studies in the History of Medieval Religion
Chapter 2 - The administrative structure
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 September 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The impulse: what prompted monastic hospitality?
- Chapter 2 The administrative structure
- Chapter 3 The reception of guests
- Chapter 4 Provision for guests: body and soul
- Chapter 5 Provision for guests: entertainment and interaction
- Chapter 6 The financial implications of hospitality
- Conclusion
- Appendix 1 Jocelin of Brakelond, monk of Bury St Edmunds
- Appendix 2 The Waterworks Plan of Christ Church, Canterbury
- Bibliography
- Index
- Other volumes in Studies in the History of Medieval Religion
Summary
Let the care of the guesthouse be entrusted to a brother whose soul is possessed with the fear of God: let there be sufficient beds prepared there and let the house of God be governed by prudent men.
The twelfth century saw significant changes to the administrative and social organisation of the monastery. The growing withdrawal of the abbot from communal life meant that he might have his own quarters and household, and was frequently absent from the monastery leaving the prior in command. Related to this was the division of revenues between the abbot and convent, a lengthy process that began in a number of houses from the mid-twelfth century. There was an increase also in the number of monastic officials appointed who might now be assigned independent revenues and delegate much of their work to lay assistants. These developments had significant implications for the administration of hospitality and Benedict's prescriptions in his Rule were adapted to suit contemporary needs. This was not a contravention of the Rule for Benedict had envisaged that this should be a beginning, a framework that communities could modify according to their needs and circumstances.
These changes to monastic organisation meant that from the twelfth century the abbot and convent might each be made responsible for a specific group or groups of visitors, whom they were to receive, accommodate and finance during their stay.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Monastic HospitalityThe Benedictines in England, c.1070–c.1250, pp. 50 - 93Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2007