Bricstan
Encyclopedia
Bricstan was a 12th century trainee monk
, miracle
witness and Chatteris
's first known parishioner. His story is chronicled by Bishop Hervey
, the Bishop of Ely
when Chatteris Abbey
(which was dated around the year 980) was placed under the patronage of the Bishop of Ely
by King Henry I
in 1131.
living in Chatteris
round about the year 1115. He wanted to become a monk, so he walked to the abbey at Ely, where the Chief Abbott accepted him for training as a monk. However, he was accused of theft, by a rogue who had a grievance against him. The accusations were accepted by the Chief Abbott, and Bricstan was sent to prison in London where he was kept in chains at all times.
The legend recounts that one night he had a vision of Saint Etheldreda coming towards him, and as if by a miracle, his chains fell from him and he was shackled no longer. When he awoke from his dream, he discovered that this was indeed true and he was free, of his chains at any rate. The Queen (the second wife of Henry the First) heard of the miracle, and she assured herself that he was no rogue or thief and issued a writ of pardon and declared him a free man.
Bricstan's name is currently used as the name of the new Parish Church hall in Chatteris. The new "Bricstan Hall", part funded by SureStart is now a well used resource for many groups in the town.
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
witness and Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
's first known parishioner. His story is chronicled by Bishop Hervey
Hervey le Breton
Hervey le Breton was a Breton cleric who became Bishop of Bangor in Wales and later Bishop of Ely in England. Appointed to Bangor by King William II of England, when Normans were advancing into Wales, Hervey was unable to remain in his diocese when the Welsh began to drive the Normans back from...
, the Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
when Chatteris Abbey
Chatteris Abbey
Chatteris Abbey in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire was founded as a monastery for Benedictine nuns in 1016 by Ednoth, Bishop of Dorchester. Before 1310 much of the monastery was destroyed by fire...
(which was dated around the year 980) was placed under the patronage of the Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
by King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
in 1131.
The legend
Bricstan was a free tenantFree tenant
Free Tenants, also known as Free Peasants, were peasants in Medieval England who occupied a unique place in the Medieval hierarchy. They were characterised by the low rents they paid to their Manorial Lord as well as being subject to fewer laws and ties than villeins.-Definition:One of the major...
living in Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
round about the year 1115. He wanted to become a monk, so he walked to the abbey at Ely, where the Chief Abbott accepted him for training as a monk. However, he was accused of theft, by a rogue who had a grievance against him. The accusations were accepted by the Chief Abbott, and Bricstan was sent to prison in London where he was kept in chains at all times.
The legend recounts that one night he had a vision of Saint Etheldreda coming towards him, and as if by a miracle, his chains fell from him and he was shackled no longer. When he awoke from his dream, he discovered that this was indeed true and he was free, of his chains at any rate. The Queen (the second wife of Henry the First) heard of the miracle, and she assured herself that he was no rogue or thief and issued a writ of pardon and declared him a free man.
Historicity
The legal case was brought before the court in London is recorded in legal texts of that time The history of the county of Cambridge reports that "There is some support for this possibility in the tale of a miracle performed by St. Etheldreda in the reign of Henry I. She released from prison a certain Bricstan who, being accused of stealing the king's money, had been condemned”Bricstan's name is currently used as the name of the new Parish Church hall in Chatteris. The new "Bricstan Hall", part funded by SureStart is now a well used resource for many groups in the town.