MARGARET KIRKBY, ANCHORESS OF RAVENSWORTH

 

MARGARET KIRKBY (POSSIBLY 1322 TO 1381-94), WAS AN ANCHORESS OF RAVENSWORTH IN NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. She was the principal disciple of the hermit Richard Rolle, and the recipient of much of his writings. Information about her comes from a biographical office of Rolle written between 1381 and 1383, when Margaret returned to the Cistercian nunnery at Hampole some thirty-four years after Rolle's death. Her recollections were used to provide a biography of Rolle, celebrating his holiness. Miracles reported by pilgrims from across the North of England were also recorded to encourage an unofficial cult.

Anchoress Margaret was also instrumental in the composition of a liturgical commemoration of the gift of canor, the mystical ecstasy that Rolle celebrated in his writings. 

Margaret came from a small landowning gentry family in Ravensworth. It is thought that she became interested in the solitary life as a young nun of Hampole guided by Richard Rolle, the convent's spiritual director. He wrote his English translation and commentary on the Psalms for her.

Margaret became an anchoress in East Layton in Richmondshire - possibly in 1348. Her patrons may have been the Fitzhugh family, who were local estate-owners.

Rolle wrote The Form of Living for Margaret, the first vernacular guide for recluses since the Ancrene Riwle. He also presented her with a collection of his works made into a single treatise.

Margaret struggled when she left Hampole, and suffered seizures, an illness which eventually left her. In 1357, Margaret was given the unusual concession to change cells and was enclosed in Ainderby, so that she could observe the celebration of holy Mass in the parish church. Thirteenth-century episcopal registers emphasized the recluse's service to God through a penitential, ascetic life,

The enclosure at Ainderby churchyard brought her to the attention of Richard le Scrope who later became Archbishop of York. It is probably through le Scrope that Rolle's writings came to the attention of the Cambridge educated northerners in service of Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury. This led to a pastoral response to Rolle's teachings which provided contemplative instructions for lay-folk.

It is through Henry Scrope, the king's treasurer, that the teachings of Rolle and Margaret's example inspired Henry V and Henry Baron Fitzhugh of Tanfield to establish the eremitic communities of Sheen Priory and Syon Monastery.

Margaret returned some time between 1381 and 1383 to Hampole, where she lived until her death ten years later. She was buried in the cemetery of Hampole. 

Frances Beer posits that from her life "we can surely conclude that [Margaret] was strong, courageous, intelligent, purposeful - deserving of the great esteem in which she was held by her great friend and advisor [Rolle]."

With thanks to resource: Alchetron - Margaret Kirkby

https://alchetron.com/Margaret-Kirkby 

First image used with permission from A.W., Lumiere volunteer. 

Image ot Sister at prayer with thanks to Freepik AI generated art by CN Whittle