Female Patrons of Late Medieval English Monasteries

This paper looks at one particular aspect of monastic patronage in later medieval England and Wales, namely the issue of women's relationships with communities of monks and nuns—as foundresses, patronesses, or benefactresses. It aims to demonstrate that women were prolific participants in the religious life of the medieval British Isles, despite their often limited presence in the sources, which tend to favour male patrons and benefactors. By extension, considering the involvement of women in medieval monastic patronage allows us to analyse more widely certain ideas behind lay religiosity, of practices, expectations, preoccupations, concerns and priorities.