Friends of Merton Priory

Nones at Merton Priory, 4th May 2008

The Augustinian Priory of St Mary's Merton has been the venue for the Office of Nones annually since 1998. Our eleventh Nones will be on Sunday 4th May 2008 at 3pm when we shall be remembering Henry of Uppsala. Henry, thought to be an Augustinian, is Finland's Patron Saint and we are inviting the Finnish community.

Walter de Merton, founder of Merton College Oxford, St. Thomas a Becket, Nicholas Breakespeare, our daughter priories and the books which were scattered from the library in 1538 have all been remembered at previous annual Nones. As can be seen from this impressive list the Augustinians played a vital role in English history. William Tyndale worked with his friend, the Augustinian Miles Coverdale, while translating the New Testament. He also used as his amanuenses Robert Barnes another Augustinian. Martin Luther, yet another Augustinian, was a great influence on them all.

Walter de Merton wrote his rule for his students at his college in Oxford. This was influenced and based around the Augustinian rule he was so familiar with as clerk at Merton Augustinian Priory in Surrey. This system was quickly recommended to be practised at both Oxford and Cambridge. So it is possible to say that all the reformers, apart from Luther, were taught by the influence flowing from Merton Priory. Wycliffe while at Merton College was a great influence on the Czech Reformer Huss, and from Huss there flowed yet more of its influence.

All that can be seen now of the glorious Augustinian Priory where Kings and Queens were entertained and which played a role in Magna Carta, are the remains of the largest Chapter House in England. However it is possible to accommodate easily within these remains more than 150 guests. Anyone wishing to join us on Sunday 4th May 2008 at 3pm is very welcome. The service is the very one that the canons of Merton said when they entered the priory 3rd May 1117. The Chapter House can be found UNDER Merantun Way, South Wimbledon SW19. Parking is available in the adjacent Sainsbury's car park. The nearest tube stations are Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon (Northern Line).

We have a great deal of information which will be on display but can also be obtained by contacting friendsofmertpri@aol.com or Merton Priory, 15 Rossiter Road, London SW12 9RY.

Nicholas Breakspear: Pope Adrian IV

Trained at Merton Augustinian Priory.

Circa 1100	Born near St.Albans (Bedmond, Abbots Langley)
1125	Arrives at Merton
1130	Nicholas arrives at St. Rufus Augustinian Priory, Avignon. (Merton Priory built of stone.) Friend of John of Salisbury, who wrote of conversations he had with Nicholas about the Canons of Merton.
1137	By now he was Abbot of St. Rufus and Pope Eugene III removed him as being "too strict" and made him a Cardinal.
1146	Bishop of Albano
1152	The Pope created a post for him to fulfil his many gifts and he became a Papal Legate to Scandinavia. His work in Norway and Sweden earned him sainthood among the Scandinavians. Built cathedral at Hamar and reconstructed the church.
1154	Unanimously elected Pope.
1159	Died at Anagni and buried in the Vatican where his tomb may still be seen. (He was an Augustinian)

We are assuming that St. Rufus is the Rufus whose father carried the Cross on Good Friday.

Display panel produced for a previous Nones at Merton Priory