emain, some having become
cathedrals, as Gloucester, some parish churches, as Sherborne, but few of
the churches belonging to nunneries survived the suppression of the
religious houses; one at Cambridge, now used as the chapel of Jesus
College, and the church at Romsey, are, however, among the few exceptions.
We could wish that we knew more about the history of this religious house,
but sufficient is known to show us that it was once a very famous abbey,
and a place of instruction for many royal and noble ladies, in its early
days the discipline of the Benedictine rule seems to have been well
maintained, though in later years faith grew cold and worldliness
prevailed within its walls, as indeed it did in many another monastery
and nunnery, so that when the old order changed giving place to new, the
people of the country, especially in what was once the original kingdom of
the West Saxons, saw them suppressed without any great feelings of regret.
The architectural student and the archaeologist, indeed, regret that so
many of the abbey churches have become little more than picturesque ruins
such as Glastonbury, or mere grass-covered foundations such as Bindon and
Shaftesbury, and when so many have perished we cannot be too thankful that
the splendid abbey church at Romsey still stands in all its pristine
beauty and interest.

VICARS OF ROMSEY

_As given in a list suspended in the Retro-choir_

1282 Solomon de Roffa, Prebendary of St. Laurence Major.
1292 John de Romese, Prebendary of Edington.
1304 John de London, Prebendary of Edington.
1312 Gilbert de Middleton, Prebendary of Edington.
1322 Henry de Chilmark.
1325 Richard de Chaddesley, D.C.L.
1342 Nicholas de Gutleston.
1344 Nicholas de Ballestone.
1349 John de Minstede.
_c._ 1360 Thomas Eggesworth.
1371 John Ffolliott.
1380 Roger Purge.
1400 John Winfrey or Umfray.
1420 John Bayley, M.A.
1464 John Green, M.A.
1482 Edward Coleman, M.A.
1500 John Hopwood.
1519 John Newman, LL.B.
1546 Roger Richardson.
1586 Samuel Adams.
1620 Anthony White, M.A.
1648 John Warren (an intruder).
1662 Thomas Doughty.
1666 Jacobus Wood.
1669 Samuel Walensius.
1680 Thomas Donne.
1690 William Mayo.
1727 John King.
1746 John Peverell.
1781 John Woodbron.
1808 Daniel Williams.
1833 William Vaux, Canon.
1841 Gerard Noel, Canon.
1849 William Carus, Canon.[8]
1855 Charles Avery Moore.
1860 Edward