Shaftesbury Abbey

Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset was once one of the richest monastic houses in the land. Founded by Alfred the Great whose statue overlooks the site, it was also the resting place of King Edward the Martyr, King of the English from 975 until he was murdered by persons unknown in 978, to be succeeded by his brother, AEthelred the Unready. Modern historians generally consider Edward’s death not to be a martyrdom but a political assassination, and his supposed sanctity is open to dispute, but the Abbess and nuns of Shaftesbury doubtless made good money from pilgrims visiting his shrine.

Henry VIII’s evangelical Chancellor, Thomas Cromwell, currently popularised by TV’s Wolf Hall series, arranged for the Abbey's surrender and dissolution, but not before the last abbess, Elizabeth Zouche, had negotiated for herself an annual pension of £133 6s. 8d per annum, which is over £870,000 in today’s money. It would seem that those holy ladies would do well out of the Abbey whether it be open or closed. A medieval observation was "If the abbot of Glastonbury could marry the abbess of Shaftesbury their heir would hold more land than the king of England". Even in retirement, she was well provided for.

What now of this sacred place, this shrine of saintly kings, this fat cash cow used to keeping nunnish dames in the lifestyles to which they had grown accustomed? A ruin, a sad ruin. Pretty flowers grow among the exposed stones and foundations, and polite volunteers offer to share their knowledge of the place. A gift shop sells higher quality trinkets than many of its competitors, and some nice Anglo-Saxon waxworks add a little drama to the exhibition. From AD 888 to 1539, the Abbey of Shaftesbury was an economic and political power to be reckoned with, but now it is nothing. And so with all great human endeavours, organisations, corporations and governments. Their tenures are short, their leases fixed.

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. 

Daniel 2:20b-21