Ewenny Priory

All medieval knights had to overcome a difficult hurdle. How, after a lifetime of bloody slaughters and brutal rapes should they escape the fires of hell? One of the first knights who found the highway to heaven was Charlemagne´s kinsman William of Gellone, who founded the monastery of Gellone, became a monk and was canonized a saint in 1066.

Ewenny Priory was founded by the Norman knight Maurice de Londres in 1141 . Maurice granted the church to the abbey of St. Peter at Gloucester together with the church of St Brides Major and the chapel at Ogmore "in order that a convent of monks might be formed".

There had been an older, monastic cell. It is described in the 12th century Book of Llandaff as dedicated to Eguenni, an early Welsh saint. De Londres plundered the site with the intent of building a castle on it but was stopped by a decree from Pope Honorius II in 1128 which threatened the knight with excommunication. The new priory was unusual in having extensive military-style defences.

The priory was badly damaged during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr in the early 15th century. When King Henry VIII introduced the Reformation, only the prior and two monks remained here. It was dissolved in 1540. In 1545 the priory was sold. Parts of the convent buildings were converted into a manor house, while other parts were demolished. The eastern part of the church remained unused and fell into disrepair after the dissolution of the priory. The nave, however, was used as a parish church.