Abbey of Saint Bertin

The Abbey of Saint Bertin was a Benedictine monastic abbey in Saint-Omer, France. The buildings are now in ruins, which are open to the public. It was initially dedicated to Saint Peter but was rededicated to its second abbot, Saint Bertin. The abbey is known for its Latin cartulary (Chartularium Sithiense) whose first part is attributed to Folquin.

"Saint-Bertin" redirects here. For the saint, see Bertin.
Abbey of Saint Bertin
Abbaye Saint-Bertin
Ruins of the abbey
Abbey of Saint Bertin is located in France
Abbey of Saint Bertin
Location within France
Monastery information
Other namesAbbey of Sithiu
OrderOrder of Saint Benedict
Established7th century
Disestablished1791
Architecture
Heritage designationMonument historique
Designated date1840
Site
LocationSaint-Omer, France
Coordinates50.7507°N 2.264°E / 50.7507; 2.264

The abbey was founded on the banks of the Aa in the 7th century by Bishop Audomar of Thérouanne, who is now better known as Saint Omer. He sent the monks Bertin, Momelin, and Ebertram from Sithiu (now St-Omer) to proselytize among the pagans in the region. The abbey soon became one of the most influential monasteries in northern Europe and ranked in importance with Elnon (now St-Amand Abbey) and St. Vaast. Its library included the codex of the Leiden Aratea, from which two copies were made. The Annals of St Bertin are an important source of the history of 9th-century France.

Already in the 9th century, the abbey had a priory in Poperinge. A Romanesque church was constructed in the mid-11th century.[1] It was 25 m (82 ft) high with a 48-metre-high (157 ft) tower. It included a large 14th-century semi-circular sanctuary with five side-chapels. It served as a model for the church, whose construction was not completed until the beginning of the 16th century.

Bishop Herman of Ramsbury was a monk at the abbey from 1055 to 1058, having abandoned his duties but not his title, which he resumed upon his election as bishop of Sherborne. From 1106, the abbey had the right of appointing the priests at Lissewege and Ruiselede. William Clito was buried here in 1128. The abbey had a 'refuge-house' in the now-demolished Sint-Lodewijkscollege in Bruges.

The abbey ceased to flourish after the 13th century, although it survived until its closure during the French Revolution. In 1830, the commune ordered the demolition of the church, though they spared the tower. The buttress they erected to support it is still visible, although the tower itself collapsed in 1947 owing to damage sustained in the shelling of the town during World War II. St-Omer's town hall was constructed with stone removed from the site in 1834.

List of abbots
  • 638–659 — Mummolin I
  • 655–700 — Bertin
  • 700–??? — Rigobert
  • Erlefred
  • 712 — Erkembode
  • c. 745 — Waimar
  • Nantharius I
  • Dadbert
  • Hardrad
  • 795–804 — Odland
  • 804–820 — Nantharius II
  • 820–834 — Fridugisus
  • 834–844 — Hugh I
  • 844–859 — Adalard (first time)
  • 859–881 — Hugh II
  • 861–864 — Adalard (second time)
  • 864–866 — Hunfrid I
  • 866–878 — Hilduin
  • 878–883 — Fulk the Venerable (first time)
  • 884–892 — Rudolf
  • 893–900 — Fulk the Venerable (second time)
  • The following were abbots in commendam:
  • 944–947 — Gerard I
  • 947–950 — Guy
  • 950–954 — Hildebrand (first time)
  • 954–961 — Ragenold
  • 961–962 — Adolf
  • 962–971 — Hildebrand (second time)
  • 973–984 — Walter I
  • 985–986 — Trutgaud
  • 986–1007 — Odbert
  • 1008–1021 — Hunfrid II
  • 1021–1043 — Roderic
  • 1043–1065 — Bovo
  • 1065–1081 — Heribert
  • 1081–1095 — John I
  • 1095–1124 — Lambert
  • 1124–1131 — John II of Furnes
  • 1131–1136 — Simon I of Ghent
  • 1138–1163 — Leo of Saint-Bertin
  • 1163–1176 — Godescal
  • 1176–1186 — Simon II
  • 1186–1230 — John III of Ypres
  • 1230–1237 — Jacques I of Furnes
  • 1237–1249 — Simon III of Ghent
  • 1249–1264 — Gilbert
  • 1265–1268 — Jacques II
  • 1268–1271 — Guillaume I d'Oye
  • 1271–1278 — Jean IV Dubois
  • 1278–1294 — Walter II Bloc
  • 1294–1297 — Eustache Gomer
  • 1297–1311 — Gilles d'Oignies
  • 1311–1334 — Henri de Coudescure
  • 1334–1365 — Aleaume Boistel
  • 1365–1383 — Jean V le Long
  • 1383–1407 — Jacques III de Condète
  • 1407–1420 — Jean VI de Blicquère
  • 1420–1425 — Alard Trubert
  • 1425–1447 — Jean VII de Griboval
  • 1447–1450 — Jean VIII de Medon
  • 1450/1–1473 — Guillaume Fillastre
  • 1473–1492 — Jean IX Launay
  • 1492–1493 — Jacques IV Duval
  • 1493–1531 — Antoine I de Berghes
  • 1531–1544 — Angelbert d'Espagne
  • 1544–1571 — Gérard II de Haméricourt
  • 1571–1583 — vacancy
  • 1583–1603 — Waast de Grenet
  • 1604–1611 — Nicolas Mainfroy
  • 1612–1623 — Guillaume III Loemel
  • 1623–1631 — Philippe Gillocq
  • 1631–1641 — vacancy
  • 1641–1650 — Antoine II Laurin
  • 1650–1674 — François I de Lières
  • 1674–1677 — François II Boucault
  • 1677–1705 — Benoît I de Béthune des Plancques
  • 1706–1723 — Mommelin II Le Riche
  • 1723–1723 — Guillaume IV Dubois
  • 1723–1744 — Benoît II Petit Pas
  • 1744–1763 — Charles de Gherboode d'Espaing
  • 1764–1774 — Antoine III Clériade de Choiseul-Beaupré
  • 1774–1791 — Joscio d'Allesnes

References
  1. Some carved capitals and fragments of mosaics from this structure are conserved in the museum in Hôtel Sandelin, St-Omer.
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