St Guthlac

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Another slide from my history presentation.

Guthlac was born into the Mercian nobility. At the age of 24, he quit the army and joined the Abbey at Repton. After just 2 years there he was asked to move on. Supposedly it was because of his complete abstinence from drinking alcohol.

He went to the fens to seek solitude and fight the demons speaking in strange tongues that resided there. The demons turned out to bea fen dwelling tribe called the Gyrwa that spoke in an old bretonic language.

Guthlac made a home in a barrow a d lived there for the last 15 years of his life. He would give sermons and perform miracles. An abbey, dedicated to him was founded soon after his death.

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

Another aching void in knowledge has been filled. 😀 Seriously, In have never heard of this person and it's always interesting to learn a little more history. Is anything of the memorial abbey still extant?

Jacko1971 · 51-55, M

@FreddieUK Not the original building but a building certainly. The original wooden building was burnt down by the Vikings in 870. As were the other monastic buildings around the area. The current building I believe is the 4th incarnation of the Abbey. There is a painting in the church, also available online, showing how it might have looked in its prime.

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With the exception of Peterborough, all of the post viking era monastic buildings were destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries.

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The red circle is roughly all that remains today and is used as the parish church.

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@Jacko1971 Thank you so much for this thorough answer. If I am in that area again, I will certainly look it up. I don't how this person escaped my attention over the years, but your research has educated one person at least.

Jacko1971 · 51-55, M

@FreddieUK Thanks you for your kind words and your interest. I'm glad I held out and didn't rush out an answer this morning. I knew I had the photos on my computer and having had the day to formulate my answer, I was able to address the subject properly. It also helps me with my project when I am given the opportunity to regurgitate the facts I have learnt. It shows me that I understand what it is I'm studying.