# Bec Abbey

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{{Short description|Benedictine monastic foundation in Normandy, France}}
[[Image:Abbaye du Bec - Façade sud vue du Bec.jpg|thumb|right|350px|South side of the abbey, the church and the monks' cells seen from [Le Bec-Hellouin](/source/Le_Bec-Hellouin)]]
'''Bec Abbey''', formally the '''Abbey of Our Lady of Bec''' ({{langx|fr|Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec}}), is a [Benedictine](/source/Order_of_Saint_Benedict) monastic foundation in the [Eure](/source/Eure) ''[département](/source/d%C3%A9partement_in_France)'', in the Bec valley midway between the cities of [Rouen](/source/Rouen) and [Bernay](/source/Bernay%2C_Eure). It is located in [Le Bec Hellouin](/source/Le_Bec_Hellouin), [Normandy](/source/Normandy), [France](/source/France), and was the most influential [abbey](/source/abbeys) of the 12th-century [Anglo](/source/Kingdom_of_England)-[Norman kingdom](/source/Duchy_of_Normandy).<ref>[C. Warren Hollister](/source/C._Warren_Hollister), ''Henry I'' (Yale English Monarchs) 2001:16.</ref>

Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals of the house but uniquely its first  abbots also received individual biographies, brought together by the monk of Bec, [Milo Crispin](/source/Milo_Crispin). Because of the abbey's cross-Channel influence, these [hagiographic lives](/source/hagiography) sometimes disclose historical information of more than local importance.thumb|right|Seal Abbaye du Bec.

{{anchor|Etymology|Toponymy}}

==Name==
The name of the abbey derives from the bec, or [stream](/source/Gill_(ravine)), that runs nearby. The word derives from the Scandinavian root, ''bekkr''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Notre-Dame Abbey, Le Bec-Hellouin |url=https://www.normandy-abbeys.com/abbaye/abbaye-notre-dame-du-bec-hellouin/ |website=Abbayes de Normandy |access-date=27 Feb 2021}}</ref>

==First foundation==
thumb|left|upright=1.1|"Herlwin Building His First Church", from E.M. Wilmot-Buxton's 1915 ''Anselm''.{{sfnp|Wilmot-Buxton|1915|p=20}}
thumb|upright=1.3|West side of the Tour Saint-Nicolas, between the ancient pottery to its left and the monks' residential building to its right
The abbey was founded in 1034 by [Saint Herluin](/source/Herluin_of_Bec),{{refn|group=n|Not to be confused with [Herluin](/source/Herluin_de_Conteville), father of [Odo of Bayeux](/source/Odo_of_Bayeux) and [Robert of Mortain](/source/Robert_of_Mortain)}} whose [life](/source/hagiography) was written by [Gilbert Crispin](/source/Gilbert_Crispin), [Abbot of Westminster](/source/Abbot_of_Westminster), formerly of Bec, and collated with three other lives by [Milo Crispin](/source/Milo_Crispin). Abbey construction began in 1034 and continued through 1035. Further lands were added through 1040.<ref>Vaughn. ''Anselm of Bec and Robert Meulan: the Innocence of Doves and the Wisdom of the Serpent'', p.&nbsp;21.</ref> Saint Herluin was a [Norman](/source/Normans) knight who in about 1031 left the court of [Gilbert, Count of Brionne](/source/Gilbert%2C_Count_of_Brionne), to devote himself to a life of religion: the ''[commune](/source/Commune_in_France)'' of Le Bec Hellouin preserves his name. One hundred and thirty-six monks made their profession while Herluin was in charge.<ref>[Adolphe-André Porée](/source/Adolphe-Andr%C3%A9_Por%C3%A9e), ''Histoire de l'abbaye du Bec'', Vol. 1, p. 131, note 1 & Appendix no 1.</ref>

Already an important part of the revival of [Norman monasticism](/source/Norman_monasticism), with the arrival of [Lanfranc of Pavia](/source/Lanfranc), Bec became a focus of 11th century intellectual life. Lanfranc, who was already famous for his lectures at [Avranches](/source/Avranches), came to teach as prior and master of the monastic school, but left in 1062, to become abbot of [St. Stephen's Abbey](/source/Abbaye_aux_Hommes), [Caen](/source/Caen), and later [Archbishop of Canterbury](/source/Archbishop_of_Canterbury). He was followed as abbot by [Anselm](/source/Anselm_of_Canterbury), also later an Archbishop of Canterbury, as was the fifth abbot, [Theobald of Bec](/source/Theobald_of_Bec). Many distinguished ecclesiastics, probably including the future [Pope Alexander II](/source/Pope_Alexander_II) and Saint [Ivo of Chartres](/source/Ivo_of_Chartres), were educated in the school at Bec.

The life of the founder (''Vita Herluini'') was written by [Gilbert Crispin](/source/Gilbert_Crispin). Archbishop Lanfranc also wrote a ''Chronicon Beccense'' of the life of Herlui. Milo Crispin's biography of the first four abbots was published at Paris in 1648.<ref>[http://www.obrasraras.usp.br/obras/001154/ 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023013414/http://www.obrasraras.usp.br/obras/001154/ |date=2005-10-23 }}.</ref>

The followers of [William the Conqueror](/source/William_the_Conqueror) supported the abbey, enriching it with extensive properties in [England](/source/England). Bec also owned and managed [St Neots Priory](/source/St_Neots_Priory), now in [Cambridgeshire](/source/Cambridgeshire), as well as a number of other British foundations, including [Goldcliff Priory](/source/Goldcliff_Priory) in [Monmouthshire](/source/Monmouthshire) founded in 1113 by Robert de Chandos. The village of [Tooting Bec](/source/Tooting_Bec), now a London suburb in [Wandsworth](/source/Wandsworth), is so named because the abbey owned the land.

Bec Abbey was the original burial place of the [Empress Matilda](/source/Empress_Matilda), whose bones were later transferred to [Rouen Cathedral](/source/Rouen_Cathedral), where they remain.

Bec Abbey was damaged during the [Wars of Religion](/source/French_Wars_of_Religion) and left a ruin in the [French Revolution](/source/French_Revolution) but the 15th-century St. Nicholas Tower (''{{lang|fr|Tour Saint-Nicolas}}'') from the medieval monastery is still standing.<ref>[http://www.oginet.com/Chronicles/bec.htm 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119054049/http://www.oginet.com/Chronicles/bec.htm |date=2005-11-19 }}.</ref>

{{clear}}

==Second foundation==
In 1948 the site was re-established as the ''Abbaye de Notre-Dame du Bec'' by [Olivetan](/source/Olivetan) monks led by Dom Grammont, who effected some restorations. The abbey is known for its links with [Anglicanism](/source/Anglicanism) and has been visited by successive archbishops of Canterbury. The abbey library contains the John Graham Bishop deposit of 5,000 works concerning Anglicanism.

Today the Abbey is probably best known for the pottery the monks produce.
<gallery>
Image:Abbaye du Bec église abbatiale.jpg|Abbey church
Image:Aussenansicht der Abtei Le Bec.jpg|Residential building
File:Abbaye_Notre-Dame_du_Bec_R04.jpg|Tour Saint-Nicolas
Image:Abbaye du Bec tour S Nicolas closer2.jpg|Close-up of the Tour Saint-Nicolas
Image:Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin - Le cloître.jpg|Cloister
File:Sarcophages.jpg|Sarcophagi in the park of the abbey
File:Moine de l'abbaye du Bec-Hellouni.jpg |Morning in the abbey grounds
</gallery>

{{anchor|Abbots|Abbot}}

==List of abbots==
{{redirect|Guillaume Guérin|the French politician|Guillaume Guérin (politician)}}
The following is a list of the abbots:<ref>{{cite book 
|last=Porée |first=Adolphe-André |author-link=Adolphe-André Porée |year=1901 |language=fr |title=Histoire de l'abbaye du Bec |url=https://archive.org/details/histoiredelabba00unkngoog |location=Évreux |publisher=Imprimerie de Charles Hérissey }}</ref><ref>{{cite book 
|last=Bourget |first=Dom. John |year=1779 |title=The History of the Royal Abbey of Bec |url=https://archive.org/details/historyroyalabb00bourgoog |location=London |publisher=J. Nichols |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyroyalabb00bourgoog/page/n155 135]–137}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=29 March 1990|title=Consternation dans le diocèse d'Evreux. Une double démission pour "raisons sentimentales" à l'abbaye du Bec-Hellouin|newspaper=[Le Monde](/source/Le_Monde)|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1990/03/29/consternation-dans-le-diocese-d-evreux-une-double-demission-pour-raisons-sentimentales-a-l-abbaye-du-bec-hellouin_3962691_1819218.html|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Clénet|first=Paul-Emmanuel|year=2008|title=Dom Philibert Zobel 1921 - 2008|journal=L'Ulivo|volume=38|number=1|pages=332–33|language=fr}}</ref>

{{colbegin}}
* 1034–1078: [Herluin](/source/Herluin_of_Bec) (or Hellouin)
* 1078–1093: [Anselm](/source/Anselm_of_Canterbury) (afterwards [archbishop of Canterbury](/source/archbishop_of_Canterbury))
* 1093–1124: [Guillaume de Montfort-sur-Risle](/source/Guillaume_de_Montfort-sur-Risle)
* 1124–1136: Boson of Bec
* 1136–1138: [Theobald](/source/Theobald_of_Bec) (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury)
* 1139–1149: Létard of Bec
* 1149–1179: [Roger de Bailleul](/source/Roger_de_Bailleul) (elected archbishop of Canterbury, but declined the position)
* 1179–1187: [Osbern](/source/Osbern_of_Bec)<ref>former prior of the Trinity of Beaumont was abbot from October 1179 until he died on September 23, 1187.</ref>
* 1187–1194: Roger II<ref>Roger II was elevated from the position of prior at Bec</ref>
* 1195–1197: [Gauthier](/source/Gauthier_of_Bec)<ref>Gauther was elevated from position of prior at Bec</ref>
* 1197–1198: Hugues de Cauquainvilliers<ref>otherwise de Coquainvilliers, died May 16, 1198 at the priory of Bonne-Nouvelle, of which he was former prior.</ref>
* 1198–1211: [Guillaume Le Petit](/source/Guillaume_Le_Petit)<ref>Also known as Guillaume II, was elevated from a position of former monk at Bec.</ref>
* 1211–1223: [Richard de Saint-Léger](/source/Richard_de_Saint-L%C3%A9ger) ''alias'' de Bellevue (afterwards [bishop of Évreux](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_%C3%89vreux))
* 1223–1247: [Henri de Saint-Léger](/source/Henri_de_Saint-L%C3%A9ger)
* 1247–1265: Robert de Clairbec<ref>Robert 1st of Clairbec, died on November 23, 1265, former monk of Bec, was steward of the vineyards of the abbey, in Île-de-France.</ref>
* 1265–1272: Jean de Guineville<ref>Jean 1st of Guineville, died October 11, 1272, was elevated from position of a local prior.</ref>
* 1272–1281: Pierre de la Cambe<ref>Pierre de la Cambe, died November 2, 1281, was elevated from  Prior of Envermeu.</ref> Pierre de la Cambe<ref>[https://dico-du-patrimoine.fr/abbaye-du-bec-hellouin-dherluin-1034-a-dom-grammont-1948-ou-lincroyable-histoire-dune-des-plus-belles-abbayes-normandes/   History of Bec Abbey].</ref>
* 1281–1304: Ymer de Saint-Ymer<ref>Ymer de Saint-Ymer, died November 15, 1304, was elevated from Prior of Saint-Hymer.</ref>
* 1304–1327: [Gilbert de Saint-Étienne](/source/Gilbert_de_Saint-%C3%89tienne)<ref>[https://dico-du-patrimoine.fr/abbaye-du-bec-hellouin-dherluin-1034-a-dom-grammont-1948-ou-lincroyable-histoire-dune-des-plus-belles-abbayes-normandes/   History of Bec Abbey].</ref><ref>Gilbert de Saint-Étienne, died on August 24, 1327, was previously prior of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan (…1293) and barnkeeper of the Bec abbey.</ref>
* 1327–1335: [Geoffroy Faé](/source/Geoffroy_Fa%C3%A9) (afterwards Bishop of Évreux)
* 1335–1351: [Jean des Granges](/source/Jean_des_Granges)<ref>Jean II des Granges, died February 19, 1351, first justice of the abbey.</ref><ref>[https://dico-du-patrimoine.fr/abbaye-du-bec-hellouin-dherluin-1034-a-dom-grammont-1948-ou-lincroyable-histoire-dune-des-plus-belles-abbayes-normandes/   History of Bec Abbey].</ref>
* 1351–1361: [Robert de Rotes](/source/Robert_de_Rotes) ''alias'' Couraye<ref>Also known as Robert II and Robert Couraye, died September 15, 1361, was doctor of decrees.</ref>
* 1361–1388: [Guillaume de Beuzeville](/source/Guillaume_de_Beuzeville) ''alias'' Popeline
* 1388–1391: [Estout d'Estouteville](/source/Estold_d'Estouteville)
* 1391–1399: [Geoffroy Harenc](/source/Geoffroy_Harenc)<ref>[https://dico-du-patrimoine.fr/abbaye-du-bec-hellouin-dherluin-1034-a-dom-grammont-1948-ou-lincroyable-histoire-dune-des-plus-belles-abbayes-normandes/   History of Bec Abbey].</ref>
* 1399–1418: [Guillaume d'Auvillars](/source/Guillaume_d'Auvillars)
* 1418–1430: [Robert Vallée](/source/Robert_Vall%C3%A9e_(abbot))
* 1430–1446: [Thomas Frique](/source/Thomas_Frique)<ref>[https://dico-du-patrimoine.fr/abbaye-du-bec-hellouin-dherluin-1034-a-dom-grammont-1948-ou-lincroyable-histoire-dune-des-plus-belles-abbayes-normandes/   History of Bec Abbey].</ref>
* 1446–1452: [Jean de La Motte](/source/Jean_de_La_Motte)
* 1452–1476: [Geoffroy d'Épaignes](/source/Geoffroy_d'%C3%89paignes)
* 1476–1484: [Jean Boucard](/source/Jean_Boucard)
* 1484–1491: [Robert d'Évreux](/source/Robert_d'%C3%89vreux)
* 1491–1515: [Guillaume Guérin](/source/Guillaume_Gu%C3%A9rin)
* 1515–1515: [Jean Ribault](/source/Jean_Ribault_(abbot))
* 1515–1520: [Adrien Gouffier de Boissy](/source/Adrien_Gouffier_de_Boissy) (created cardinal in 1515, also [bishop of Coutances](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Coutances) and the administrator of the see of Albi)
* 1520–1533: [Jean d'Orléans-Longueville](/source/Jean_d'Orl%C3%A9ans-Longueville) (also [archbishop of Toulouse](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Toulouse) and [bishop of Orléans](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Orl%C3%A9ans), created cardinal in 1533)
* 1534–1543: [Jean Le Veneur](/source/Jean_Le_Veneur) (also [Bishop of Lisieux](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Lisieux))
* 1544–1557: [Jacques d'Annebaut](/source/Jacques_d'Annebaut) (created cardinal in 1544, also Bishop of Lisieux)
* 1558–1572: [Louis de Lorraine](/source/Louis_I%2C_Cardinal_of_Guise) (created cardinal in 1553, also successively [bishop of Troyes](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Troyes), [archbishop of Sens](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Sens) and [bishop of Metz](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Metz))
* 1572–1591: [Claude de Lorraine](/source/Claude_de_Lorraine%2C_chevalier_d'Aumale)
* 1591–1597: [Emeric de Vic](/source/Emeric_de_Vic)
* 1597–1661: [Dominique de Vic](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Auch) (also [archbishop of Auch](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Auch))
* 1661–1664: ''vacant''
* 1664–1707: [Jacques-Nicolas Colbert](/source/Jacques-Nicolas_Colbert) (also [archbishop of Rouen](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Rouen))
* 1707–1717: [Roger de La Rochefoucauld](/source/Roger_de_La_Rochefoucauld)
* 1717–1771: [Louis de Bourbon-Condé](/source/Louis%2C_Count_of_Clermont)
* 1771–1782: ''vacant''
* 1782–1790: [Yves-Alexandre de Marbeuf](/source/Yves-Alexandre_de_Marbeuf) (also [bishop of Autun](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Autun), later [archbishop of Lyon](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Lyon))
* 1790–1948: ''vacant''
* 1948–1986: {{ill|Paul Grammont|fr}}
* 1988–1990: [Philippe Aubin](/source/Philippe_Aubin)
* 1990–1996: [Philibert Zobel](/source/Philibert_Zobel)
* 1996–2020: [Paul-Emmanuel Clénet](/source/Paul-Emmanuel_Cl%C3%A9net)
{{colend}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
*[List of Benedictine monasteries in France](/source/List_of_Benedictine_monasteries_in_France)
*[St Werburgh's Abbey](/source/St_Werburgh's_Abbey)
*[Povington Priory](/source/Povington_Priory)
*[Tooting Bec](/source/Tooting_Bec)
*[Weedon Bec](/source/Weedon_Bec)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=n}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{reflist|20em}}

===Bibliography===

* Anonymous. ''Chronique du Bec et Chronique de François Carré'' (ed. A.-A. Porée). Rouen: Meétŕie, 1883.
* Anonymous.  ''De libertate Beccensis monasterii''. In [Giles Constable](/source/Giles_Constable) (ed.) and Bernard S. Smith (trans.), ''Three Treatises from Bec on the Nature of Monastic Life''. Toronto: Univ. of Toronto Press, 2008.
* Anselm. ''Sancti Anselmi Cantuariensis archiepiscopi Opera Omnia'' (ed. F.S. Schmitt). Stuttgart: Frommann, 1968.
* [Chibnall, Marjorie](/source/Marjorie_Chibnall). ''The English Lands of the Abbey of Bec''. Oxford: OUP, 1968 [1946]. 
* Crouch, David. ''The Beaumont Twins: The Roots and Branches of Power in the Twelfth Century''. Cambridge: CUP, 1986.
* Gazeau, Véronique. "From Bec to Canterbury: Between Cloister and World, the Legacy of Anselm, a ''personne d’autorité''." In Giles E.M. Gasper and Ian Logan (edd.), ''Saint Anselm of Canterbury and His Legacy''. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2012.
* [Milo Crispin](/source/Milo_Crispin), "Vita venerabilis Willelmi abbatis Beccensis tertii." In ''[Patrologia Latina](/source/Patrologia_Latina)'', vol. 150, coll. 713-724.
* [Orderic Vitalis](/source/Orderic_Vitalis), ''The Ecclesiastical History'' (ed. M. Chibnall). Oxford: OUP, 1969 (vols. 1-2) and 1975 (vols. 3-4).
* Pohl, Benjamin and Laura Gathagan (edd.). ''A Companion to the Abbey of Le Bec in the Middle Ages''. Leiden: Brill, forthcoming.
* Porée, Adolphe-André. ''Histoire de l’abbaye du Bec''. Évreux: Hérissey, 1901. 
* Vaughn, Salley. ''Anselm of Bec and [Robert of Meulan](/source/Robert_de_Beaumont%2C_1st_Earl_of_Leicester): The Innocence of the Dove and the Wisdom of the Serpent''. Berkeley: Univ. Calif. Press, 1987. 
* {{citation |last=Wilmot-Buxton |first=Ethel Mary (Illustrations by [Morris Meredith Williams](/source/Morris_Meredith_Williams)) |title=Anselm |url=http://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=wilmotbuxton&book=anselm&story=_front |location=London |publisher=George G. Harrap &&nbsp;Co. |date=1915 }}.

==External links==
{{commons category|Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://abbayedubec.org/ Abbaye de Notre-Dame du Bec: official website]
* [http://www.bec-hellouin.fr/ Le Bec Hellouin: official website]
* {{in lang|en}} [http://www.normandygite.org.uk/le_bec_hellouin_abbey.shtml gite site with details and photos]
* {{Wikisource-inline|list=
** {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Bec |short=x |noicon=x}}
** {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Bec|year=1905|short=x |noicon=x}}
}}

{{coord|49.2288|0.7220|type:landmark_region:FR|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Benedictine monasteries in France
Category:1034 establishments in Europe
Category:1030s establishments in France
Category:Buildings and structures in Eure
Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1030s
Category:Churches in Eure
Category:Monuments of the Centre des monuments nationaux

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bec Abbey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bec_Abbey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bec_Abbey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.