The Canons at St. Monica's Priory
On March 4th 1887 the Priory of St. Monica’s passed to the Canons Regular of the Lateran of Bodmin Priory. The deed of conveyance was in the names of the Very Reverend Pascal Felix Menchini, the Reverend Henry White, the Reverend John Higgins and the Reverend Francis Belton. The intention was to use St. Monica’s as a House of Studies. “Spettisbury Priory was occupied by Austin Canons, who made it the house of studies for the young members of their Order in England, whither they are sent after they have passed through their noviceship at Bodmin, in Cornwall.”
(The taking of religious names was the rule during this period but for civil documents the original name had to be used. Hence, Henry White was known as Augustine (after Augustine of Hippo), John Higgins as Gilbert (from Gilbert of Sempringham) and Francis Belton as Thomas.)
Prior Allaria lacked the charm and flair of Belton; he also lacked certain qualities of leadership. The Abbot General, Santini had said eight years previously “his nature is not such as to attract the goodwill of the young men” and two years after that, “ The experience I have of him does not lead me to think he would be a capable superior, nor even a good master. He is an excellent teacher and a wise counsellor, but he lacks the gift of being able to guide a community or a professorium.” Nevertheless, he was appointed (there was no other available.) He was also given very exacting job of training and teaching the professed students of the English province “an office he carried out with patient and unselfish perseverance for almost twenty years during which some twenty students would pass through his hands to the priesthood”
In the census taken on 5th April 1891 the Priory had a Community of two Priests, two lay workers and seven students training to be priests.
Ten years later in the1901 census the Community had 8 priests, 4 lay brothers and 7 students. Priory House was part of the main property but may have been let to tenants. (Prior Allaria must have been absent on the day of the census)
Canons outside St. Monica’s Priory
In 1902 Cuthbert McAdam took over from Allaria as Prior of St. Monica’s. He was the very antithesis of his predecessor, an engaging personality and a genial conversationalist, he invited confidence and had an easy rapport with the young. He had wide interests, varied acquaintances and practical concerns. He brought “a little alleviation to the primitive austerities” of the house. He took advice about the possibility of introducing electricity into the house and church and introduced the “oil engine from Charlton Barrow” onto the premises and got it working the pump at 2.30 pm on 4th January. Whether this was to pump drinking water into the tanks or the floodwater with its “pestiferous odour” into the river, is not known.
On 27th August 1906 the Priory was conveyed from the Right Rev. Abbott Pascal Felix Menchini, the Rev Francis Belton, the Rev. Henry White and the Rev. John Higgins to the Rev. Henry White, the Rev. John Higgins, the Rev, Charles O’Leary, the Rev. Charles Hannigan, the Rev. Walter James Smith and the Rev. James Mullens
On 22nd June 1907 the Priory at Spetisbury was sold to a community of Ursuline nuns and the Canons were dispersed, some going to Swanage, others to Bodmin and Stroud Green. The names on the deed of conveyance were the Rev. Henry White, the Rev. John Higgins, the Rev. Charles O’Leary, the Rev. Charles Hannigan, the Rev. Walter James Smith and the Rev. James Mullens.
Canons in the gardens at the back of St. Monica’s Priory
By the 15th May in Bodmin “all the library books for Spettisbury were packed ready for dispatch” and the following month Bodmin was left “without books, without a cook, without a chapter, without a choir and without an organist.” The cook, Brother Baptist, and the organist, Fr. Thomas Belton, had gone with the Visitor (Menchini) and seven students to Spetisbury. The Bridgettines left on 23rd June and the Canons moved in the same day. The Canons were to remain in Spetisbury for the next twenty years.
Between 1887 and 1907 there were three Priors at St. Monica’s. When they first arrived Thomas Belton, aged 24 and only one year ordained was appointed Prior. Belton had vision and enthusiasm and related easily to young people: he also played the organ and had a very good voice. He was a very good PR man and was very good in the observance of the apostolic exercise of hospitality; despite the poverty of the house he was always happy to entertain visitors.
Prior Belton issued a policy statement of the work of the Province. “The Canons Regular propose to establish centres where priests may be sent out on Sundays and holidays to neighbouring districts too poor and too thinly populated with Catholics to support a resident priest. These missionaries will not be a burden to small places, nor suffer the privations spiritual and social under which isolated priests so frequently labour. On their return to their respective houses they will find literary and other occupations awaiting them, the religious exercises of the community will refresh them, and the society of their brethren afford them light and encouragement.”
Prior Belton had frail health and on December 18th 1887 received the last Sacraments because he was at death’s door. However, he recovered and went to Bodmin for a month to convalesce. The following year there was a winter of exceptional severity and Belton was ill again. He allowed office to be recited in the slightly less cold house chapel rather than the freezing church. He also ordered food to be distributed twice a week to the poor in the village. In the winter of 1889 Belton had a third severe attack of sickness and convalesced in Rome, returning in February 1890.
On 4th May 1890 Prior Belton was the celebrant at the May procession around the Priory grounds in Spetisbury and then went to London for a few days. He was then transferred to St. Mary’s Priory, Bodmin as Novice Master, to the great regret of the community and the people of Spetisbury. Allaria wrote “He has left us a shining example, despite constant poor health, of deep humility and religious fervour, whereby he inspired the young members to accept regular observance. He contributed much to the good of the Congregation and to that of this house in particular.”
Anthony Allaria, a man of tradition and discipline, was appointed as the second Prior of St. Monica’s. He, himself, was surprised at the appointment and the chapter of St. Monica’s sent a petition not to have him as superior “because he scarcely understands us, has no English sympathies, has no knowledge of our circumstances, is so taciturn that you don’t know what he wants or doesn’t want, and he is far too strict.” This petition met with no success.
