England: Rye - 01

In Rye there was a small Austin Friary between the years 1364 and 1538. It has gained more historical attention than almost any other small Austin Friary probably because the public chapel built there by the Augustinians late in the fourteenth century still exists, although somewhat altered internally.

It is of similar interest as Atherstone, where the former Augustinian church – now much enlarged – is the local Anglican parish church, and Clare Priory, where still can be seen two pre-Reformation Augustinian buildings, plus the barest remnants of other buildings in ruin.

Map (below): The counties of southeastern England. Rye is located on the edge of Sussex at the tip of the red arrow.

The Augustinian Provincial of the English Province, Geoffrey Herdeby O.S.A. wrote to Pope Urban V in April 1364 that “whereas there are in England many cities and considerable towns in which the Augustinian hermits have no place, and many faithful desire to found places for them, they pray for licence to accept the same and to build oratories with bell towers and necessary offices, in which they shall enjoy their privileges, immunities and indulgences."

Pope Urban V granted Herdeby’s request. He authorised the establishment of four new places "for twelve friars, with the consent of the diocesan authorities and saving the rights of the parish church and others.”

The first of these eventuated in Rye, Sussex, which turned out to be the only Austin Friary in southeastern England. Rye is one of the Cinque Ports amongst the coastal towns of Kent and Sussex at the eastern end of the English Channel.

The Friary’s initial local benefactors were William Taillour and Benedict Zely, who in 1364 were allowed by the civic authorities to give the Augustinians two acres of land at East Cliff, on which once had stood five properties that already had been destroyed by the sea and to which the present Ockman’s Lane used to lead.

The King did not oblige the friars to pay the annual rent of 2/10d (two shillings and ten pence) on the property because the Lord Warden had reported it as having no current value, being endangered by erosion by the sea. In return for this exemption, the Austin Friars were to celebrate Mass for the good of the King and the donors of the land, and for their souls, progenitors and heirs.

The Augustinian chapel and priory on East Cliff were among the buildings that suffered from the raid by marauding French sailors in 1377, which destroyed most of Rye by fire. As the site was already being undermined by the sea, it was deemed unwise to rebuild on the same site.

The Augustinians applied to the Corporation of Rye for a new site, which was duly granted in 1379 at a place called La Haltone. Here the friars soon built a new chapel, and other buildings which no longer survive. The Chapel, which did survive, is known today as the Monastery.

(Continued on the next page.)
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England: Rye - 01