Charter from the Pope

The Charter from Pope Alexander III addressed To Sabina, Prioress of the Monastery of St. Leonard of Wroxall, is dated 4th June 1163. At the time of the rediscovery of this Charter it was remarked that this was the oldest extant Charter from any Pope to this country (1900). Click here to view the translation from the Latin original Charter.

It is recorded that Bishop Cobham visited this nunnery in 1323 when he found grave discord existing and he settled the matter between the parties involved. The priory was visited by Bishop Giffard in 1269. The same bishop visited on 11 August 1284 and preached to the nuns from Ecclesiastes 7:26 “And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her.” He visited again in 1290, preaching from the Song of Solomon 1:3 “Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love you.“