Family Lessons 116: Birkenhead Priory

This week, I caught the omnibus to Birkenhead on the Wirral. I left my home town at 6.15 and arrived the other side of the Mersey a little after midday. I have never been to this part of the world, only spying it from across the water in Liverpool. Under the Mersey I went, appearing again on the other side.

The Priory of Birkenhead remains closed during my two days off, and strong iron fences guard its two entrances, which are kept securely locked. Nevertheless, the medieval remains can be seen and a Norman chapterhouse is extant. The monks operated the first regular ferry service in the country, bearing passengers across the great river, even constructing a boarding house for when the weather forbade passage.

I enjoy visiting all ecclesiastical structures, but this one was of special importance, seeing as a survey of 1212 records Henry de Walton, my 24th great-grandfather, making grants of money to the prior and brothers of Birkenhead. Whereas medieval abbeys and priories attracted some deeply pious men and women who may have possessed a saving faith, many more joined for other reasons, growing fat and imperious, living off others’ backs. I suspect that Grandfather Henry’s generosity might have been put to better use alleviating the suffering on his own farms and villages at his manors of Walton and Hale. By the time of Reformation, the Church owned a third of all English land, and was considered to be one of the more rapacious landlords. For helping to fund this establishment, Henry was doubtless promised a reprieve of the flames of purgatory, that most obnoxious of Roman doctrines.

Three centuries later, Henry Tudor’s commissioners closed the abbeys and priories,dispensing the judgement of God, but what of those who helped to fund them? What of the generous faithful who parted with fields and coin? While scripture commends generosity, even considering it evidence of saving faith, it teaches that generous acts cannot themselves save anyone, nor procure salvation. God’s gift of eternal life is not sold to the highest bidder, only available to those with gold enough to pay. It is a gift, to be received with gladness, not a ware to be exchanged and bartered. Henry’s presence with Christ in heaven, or exile from Him in hades awaiting sentence, will demonstrate his motives well enough. Monkery and priestcraft built fine buildings and even ferry crossings, but they could never carry a man to heaven. 

But few among the carnal wise,
But few of noble race,
Obtain the favour of thy eyes,
Almighty King of grace!

He takes the men of meanest name
For sons and heirs of God;
And thus he pours abundant shame
On honourable blood.

He calls the fool and makes him know
The mysteries of his grace,
To bring aspiring wisdom low,
And all its pride abase.

Nature has all its glories lost,
When brought before his throne;
No flesh shall in his presence boast,
But in the Lord alone.

-Isaac Watts, No 74, Gadsby's Hymns