In celebration of 900 years of our church history a visit has been arranged for the abbot of St Wandrille
How did this connection with St Wandrille originate?
After William the conqueror had won his famous victory at Hastings he rewarded his loyal helpers with gifts of land. He was particularly anxious to reward his chaplain who also seems to have been a physician, and knowing that his chaplain was a devout Benedictine monk from the Abbey of St Wandrille, William gave St Wandrille lordship over four English Parishes in recognition of his services. These parishes flourished under the administration of the Abbey and early in the 12th Century the Abbey was given another four parishes including Upavon and Rushall. The Abbey also owned several additional parishes.
The deed of lordship was confirmed by Pope Innocent III after he had excommunicated and deposed King John from the throne of England in 1203. However during the Hundred Years War (1337 - 1457) between England and France, which resulted in the loss of all English possessions in France, apart from Calais, all English connections with foreign abbeys and monasteries was forbidden. For the next 600 years there seems to have been little, if any, relationship between Upavon and the Mother Church and it was not until 1960 when the Vicar, Revd Paul McCartney, re-established contact with St Wandrille, and even proposed the establishment of a society called "The Friends of St Wandrille@, a project we might like to revive.
During the middle ages the abbot was a Prebend (Honorary Canon) of Salisbury Cathedral and the present Abbot, who has the title of Reverendissime (Most Reverend), is a canon of Portsmouth Cathedral.
