Leicester Friars of the Sack

Location within Leicestershire

Monastery information
Order| The Friars of the Order of the Penitence of Jesus Christ
Established| Before 1283
Disestablished| Before 1295
Diocese| Lincoln
Site
Location| Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Coordinates| 52°37′50″N 1°08′40″W﻿ / ﻿52.630668°N 1.144485°W﻿ / 52.630668; -1.144485
Visible remains| None

Leicester Friars of the Sack is a former Friary of The Friars of the Order of the Penitence of Jesus Christ (more commonly known as the "Brothers of Penitence" or the "Friars of the Sack"), in Leicester, England.

## History

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The Friars of the Sack were so called because of their simple clothing usually made from sackcloth. The order was founded in Italy and first arrived in England during the reign of King Henry III; opening their first friary in London in 1257. Pope Gregory X suppressed the order in 1274 leading to the closure of the European friaries of the order. Those in England, however, continued to operate without Papal legitimacy; some until the final dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII.[1]

The Brothers of Penitence lived a severe life. They wore rough sackcloth and walked either barefoot or with simple wooden sandals. The friars of the order never ate meat and were only allowed to drink water.[1]

The Leicester Friary was founded before 1283.[2] The friary is thought to have been located just beyond the Western Gate of Leicester's old town walls.[3] The friary was closed before 1295, when Oliver Sutton, Bishop of Lincoln, forbade the former site from being converted for secular use.[2]

Only one Prior is known: Richard, who is recorded in 1283.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b F.A. Gasquet, English Monastic Life, pp. 234-242.
2. ^ a b c Friaries: Friaries in Leicester, A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (1954), pp. 33-35. Date accessed: 27 June 2013
3. ^ Thomas Moule, The English Counties Delineated, Volume 2, p.87.

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Monasteries in Leicestershire and Rutland

Augustinian|

* Brooke Priory
* Bradley Priory
* Charley Priory
* Grace Dieu Priory
* Kirby Bellars Priory
* Launde Priory
* Leicester Abbey
* Leicester Austin Friary
* Owston Abbey
* Ulverscroft Priory

Benedictine|

* Belvoir Priory
* Breedon Priory
* Edith Weston Priory
* Hinckley Priory
* Langley Priory

Brothers of Penitence|

* Leicester Friars of the Sack

Cistercian|

* Garendon Abbey
* Mount St Bernard Abbey

Cluniac|

* Aldermanshaw Priory

Dominican|

* Blackfriars, Leicester
* Holy Cross Priory, Leicester

Franciscan|

* Greyfriars, Leicester

Knights Hospitaller|

* Dalby Preceptory
* Heather Preceptory
* Rothley Temple
* Swinford Preceptory

Knights Templar|

* Rothley Temple

Premonstratensian|

* Croxton Abbey

Unknown or Independent|

* Holy Hill Monastery

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