Keldholme Priory election dispute
The Keldholme Priory election dispute occurred in Yorkshire, England, in 1308. Archbishop of York, William Greenfield, appointed one of the nuns to lead the house. His candidate, Emma de Ebor’, was deemed unacceptable by many nuns. This was the second disputed election for a Yorkshire Prioress in 15 years. The nuns of Keld holme re-elected Emma deEbor’, the election dispute evaporated and little more was heard of the priory until its dissolution in 1536.
About Keldholme Priory election dispute in brief
The Keldholme Priory election dispute occurred in Yorkshire, England, in 1308. After a series of resignations by its prioresses, the establishment was in a state of turmoil. Archbishop of York, William Greenfield, appointed one of the nuns to lead the house. His candidate, Emma de Ebor’, was deemed unacceptable by many nuns, who undermined her from the start to the extent that she resigned three months later. This was the second disputed election for a Yorkshire Prioress in 15 years. The nuns of Keld holme re-elected Emma deEbor’, the election dispute evaporated and little more was heard of the priory until its dissolution in 1536. The priory’s reputation was further damaged by suspicions that the Sheriff of Cleveland, Geoffrey of Eston, was engaging in sexual activities with nuns in both Keld Holme and Arden priories. The Priory was founded during the reign of King Henry I, and was a small Cistercian nunnery situated a couple of miles east of Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire. It was founded in 1294 and had two recent resignations, by Beatrice of Grendale and Emma de Stapleton respectively, by 1296 and 1301. In 1290, John le Romeyn, Greenfield’s predecessor, had appointed Josiana de Anlaby Priorss of Swine Priory and a similar crisis of leadership had occurred.
In 1308, the Archbishop of Yorks issued an official inquiry regarding the current vacancy. This commission was required to establish three things: when the vacancy had begun, how long Keldolme had lacked the necessary leadership, and whether this had lasted more than six months. The final criterion was significant because a vacancy of over six months allowed the archbishop to bypass the nuns’ right to appoint their own prioreess, and install a candidate of his choosing. Three days later, the Archdeacon of Cleveland instructed the rectors to find a suitable candidate for the position. The rectors’ task did not take long, and although they were equivocal regarding the precise length of the vacancy, they reported that the appointment was now the Archbishop’s responsibility. The Archbishop—probably the the Archbishop—appointed Emma de ebor’ on the recommendation of his commission, believing her the best-qualified candidate from among the nuns. Much of what is known of the events at KeldHolme comes from a letter written by the Archiepiscopal Registers. These include Beatrice de Holm, Isabella de Langetilla de Lokm, Joan de Lokton, Joan Rose, and Joan de Rose, who were among others who were certain of her election.
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