St. Cuthbert were translated from the temporary shrine which Bishop
Carileph had erected over them to the new Cathedral Church at Durham,
and Abbot Richard, as head of Tynemouth Priory, was present on that
occasion, and a miracle was worked upon him, for his withered arm was
cured by being brought into contact with St. Cuthbert's body. In
gratitude for this benefit, he built a chapel in honour of St. Cuthbert
in his own Abbey. For some reason the Abbey, though no doubt used, had
not hitherto been consecrated. This omission was made good on the
festival of the Holy Innocents, 1115, by Geoffrey, Archbishop of Rouen,
the Bishops of Lincoln, London, Durham and Salisbury assisting. Henry
III., his Queen Matilda, the chief nobles and prelates of the kingdom,
were present and stayed at the Abbey from December 27th until the Feast
of the Epiphany (January 6th). Wymondham Priory in Norfolk was founded
by William, Count of Arundel, and conferred on St. Albans during Abbot
Richard's rule. Like his predecessor, he enriched his relations at the
expense of the Abbey, and is further blamed by the chronicler for having
promised that the Abbey should be subject for the future not to the
Archbishop but to the Bishop of Lincoln.[11] This change seems to have
led to a stricter rule and so was displeasing to the monks, though it is
admitted that the Archbishop had not treated the Abbey well.

[11] The church remained in this diocese until 1845, when it was
handed over to Rochester, although, as will be seen afterwards,
the Abbey was made independent of the Bishop of Lincoln's
jurisdiction.

16. #Geoffrey of Gorham# (1119-1146). This Abbot came from Maine, where
he had been born. He had been invited to take charge of the monastery
school, but did not arrive in time, so he opened a school at Dunstable.
On one occasion, when a miracle play was being performed by his
scholars, he borrowed some vestments of the Abbey; these were
unfortunately destroyed in a fire; unable to pay for them, he offered
himself as a sacrifice and became a monk. He was unanimously elected
Abbot on the death of his predecessor, but at first was reluctant to
accept the office, though finally his reluctance was overcome. He made a
most energetic ruler. He increased the allowances to the kitchen,
cellars, and almonry. He ordered that the revenues of certain rectories
should be used for providing ornaments, for a fabric fund, and for the
in