Prior Laurence of St Mary’s Priory
Prior Laurence, who ruled St Mary’s Benedictine Priory in Coventry between c.1144 and 1179, was one of its most influential of Coventry’s medieval priors. His long tenure saw both political assertiveness and important building works that left a lasting impact on the city.
Laurence first appears during a contested episcopal election in the mid-twelfth century. When Walter Durdent was chosen Bishop of Coventry (1149–1159), clerics from Lichfield and Chester objected and appealed to Rome. Laurence himself travelled to the papal court, where he successfully overturned the appeal, securing Durdent’s enthronement at Coventry. Pope Eugene III went further, ruling that the episcopal chair should remain at Coventry and that the prior of the priory would henceforth hold the right to elect bishops.[i] This decision was a significant boost to the prestige and influence of St Mary’s Priory.
During his rule, Laurence also cultivated strong ties with local magnates. Ralph, Earl of Chester, granted the monks timber rights and later confirmed them in possession of St Michael’s Church, Coventry, while his successor Ranulph Blundeville exchanged wood rights for 280 acres of land at Eccleshall and Keresley.[ii] He also oversaw friendly relations with the Cluniac monks of Daventry, granting them parish churches and lands in exchange for symbolic tribute.[iii]
Perhaps Laurence’s greatest legacy was the founding of the Hospital of St John the Baptist, built between 1154 and 1176 with the support of Edmund, Archdeacon of Coventry. The hospital combined charitable and spiritual functions: offering temporary lodging to travellers, permanent relief for the poor and sick, and chapel services maintained by a small staff of secular clergy.[iv] This institution endured for centuries, later evolving into Coventry’s Old Grammar School.
Laurence was also remembered as a notable builder who may have extended or renovated parts of the priory itself.[v]His initiatives demonstrate both a concern for the material prosperity of his house and a wider civic vision for the city of Coventry.
Prior Laurence died on 29 January 1179. His passing sparked disputes over the succession, but his legacy was secure: he strengthened the priory’s political standing, ensured its independence in episcopal elections, and left behind enduring institutions, most notably the Hospital of St John, which still stands as a testament to his vision for Coventry’s spiritual and social care.
[i] McGrory, D. (2022). A History of Coventry. p. 27.
[ii] "Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of Coventry," in A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2, ed. William Page (London, 1908), pp. 52–59.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Comerford, P. “The Old Grammar School in Coventry,” July 2023. Available at: patrickcomerford.com
[v] McGrory, D. (2022). A History of Coventry. p. 24.