Faremoutiers Abbey

Faremoutiers Abbey

Faremoutiers Abbey, also called Abbaye Notre-Dame de Faremoutiers, was an important place for nuns in France. It was built when the Merovingian kings ruled and the nuns followed the Benedictine way of life. The abbey stood in what is now the Seine-et-Marne department.

In its early days, Faremoutiers Abbey helped connect the Frankish Empire with the kingdoms of Kent and East Anglia in England. The abbey was closed during the French Revolution, but it opened again in the 20th century, bringing its history back to light.

History

The abbey was founded around 620 by Burgundofara, also known as Saint Fara, who was its first leader. She wanted to serve God and got approval from Bishop Gundoald of Meaux to build the abbey on her family’s land. Monks came from Eustace of Luxeuil to help.

Faremoutiers was special because it was the first place in France to have both monks and nuns living together as a double monastery. It followed rules set by Saint Columbanus. Over time, the abbey changed its rules to follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. The abbey faced hard times, including during wars and political changes. It closed during the French Revolution, and the nuns went back to their families. The buildings were later used for other purposes.

Re-foundation

In 1923, nuns from Abbaye Saint-Nicolas de Verneuil moved to Amillis. In 1931, they started a small community at Faremoutier Abbey, and it is still there today. The Abbey of Faremoutiers is now part of the Benedictine Congregation of Mont-Olivet. Since 1980, the monastery has cared for elderly nuns from many places in France.

List of abbesses of Faremoutiers

Here is a list of the leaders of Faremoutiers Abbey, called abbesses, from its early days through later centuries:

• Burgundofara or Saint Fara (around 620–655)
• Saint Sæthryth (died before 664), stepdaughter of King Anna of East Anglia
• Saint Æthelburg (died around 664), daughter of King Anna of East Anglia
• Ruothild (840–852), daughter of Charlemagne
• Bertrade de Germanie (852–877), daughter of Louis the German
• Judith (died 977)
• Avelina (10th century)
• Hildegarde (10th century)
• Risende (1137–1146)
• Emma (1146–1154)
• Lucienne de La Chapelle (1154–1212)
• Marguerite I (1212–1215)
• Hersende de Touquin (1215–1219)
• Eustachie (1219–1240)
• Julienne de Grez de Nesle-en-Brie (1240–1252)
• Sibylle (1252–1272)
• Avoie (1272–1289)
• Marguerite II de Mons (1289–1290)
• Marguerite III de Chevry (1290–1312)
• Marguerite IV de Mons (1312–1341)
• Mathilde de Joinville de La Malmaison (1341–1346)
• Jeanne I de Noyers (1346–1363)
• Marguerite V de Lully d’Ancre (1363–1383)
• Marguerite VI de Noyers (1383–1409)
• Jeanne II de Châteauvillain (1409–1417)
• Denise du Sollier (1417–1434)
• Jeanne III Rapillard (1434–1439)
• Isabelle I de Mory (1439–1454)
• Jeanne IV de Bautot (1454–1490)
• Jeanne V Chrestienne d’Harcourt-Beuvron (1490–1511)
• Madeleine de Valois-Orléans-Angoulême (1511–1515), daughter of Charles, Count of Angoulême
• Marie I Cornu (1515–1518)
• Jeanne VI Joly (1518–1531)
• Marie II Baudry (1531–1555)
• Antoinette de Lorraine-Guise (1555–1563), daughter of Claude, Duke of Guise
• Françoise Guillard (1563–1567)
• Marie III Violle (1567–1573)
• Louise I de Bourbon-Montpensier (1573–1586), daughter of Louis, Duke of Montpensier
• Isabelle II de Chauvigny (1586–1593)
• Anne de La Châtre de Maisonfort (1593–1605)
• Françoise I de La Châtre de Maisonfort (1605–1643)
• Jeanne VII Anne de Plas (1643–1677)
• Marie IV Thérèse-Constance du Blé d’Uxelles (1677–1685)
• Marie V Anne-Généreuse-Constance de Beringhen d’Armainvilliers (1685–1721)
• Louise II Charlotte-Eugènie-Victoire de Beringhen d’Armainvilliers (1721–1726)
• Olympe-Félicité-Sophie-Fare de Beringhen d’Armainvilliers (1726–1743)
• Françoise II Catherine Molé de Champlâtreux (1743–1745)
• Marie Renée de Maupeou (1745–1759)
• Charlotte-Julie Lenormant des Forts d’Etiolles (1759–1775)
• Claude de Durfort de Léobard (1775–1791)