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A brief history of Rushen Abbey

The 15th Century

Power Struggle (1405-1537)

Despite the pillage of the Abbey in 1316, it presumably continued in existence and recovered, because in 1500 there is a record of a John Darcy (or Darse) being sent to Chester Abbey for six years to learn choir singing and to be taught to play the organ, with the intention being hat he would return to Rushen Abbey to pass on his skills.

In 1405 King Henry IV of England granted the Isle of Man to Sir John Stanley a rich English aristocrat. The Stanleys, and their descendants, the Earls of Derby, would go on to rule over the Isle of Man for over 300 years. They retained the title King of Man until 1504 when it was changed to Lord of Man.

Sir John Stanley rarely visited he Island but instead installed a series of Governors who had considerable power, and this must have lead to some conflict with "the Church" in general and the Abbot of Rushen Abbey in particular.  

The second Stanley (1414-1452) was a more frequent visitor to the Island and took a closer interest in it's affairs. He introduced codified laws and restored the ancient constitution, and in due course introduced through he Court of Tynwald a series of Acts designed to curb the power of the Church.

The first such Act, forbad the Abbott from giving shelter to any "felon" who turned up looking for a safe refuge. Another Act stated that the Abbott "should have no title to an person born out of the country that cometh into the land; he ought to be put on the Lord's farm before any other."

In 1422 the Abbott was hit with another barrage of legislation. He could no longer receive any "monk or priest as a resident without the licence of the Lord (the Lord of Man)", nor could he receive "even a stranger without informing the Lord whence they came, whither they go and what conditions they be of." He was also required to hold court every Quarter Day to discover any dues to the Lord.

In the same year he had to do fealty to Sir John Stanley, showing his claim to his holdings lands and tenements, and was forbidden to take more than five pounds out o the land.

After 1430 the Abbott also had to submit to the Deemster's (Judge's) holding his court twice yearly without his francise.

When the church barons (several Abbeys etc. held land in the Island and ruled these areas as Barons, applying their own baronial laws) were summoned to attend a Tynwald Court an those from off the Island failed to appear, they were punished by being deprived off their baronies on the Island. Those affected by this were the Abbott of Furness, the Prior of St. Bees and the Prior of Whithorn.

In the year 1485 the Stanleys were granted the title Earl of Derby, and it was the 3rd Earl (1521-1572) who was in charge at the time of the dissolution. He had already (in 1532) abolished tithes on Ale and on marriage presents which had been paid to the church when by Act of Tynwald he was appointed Steward of the Abbey, and the Abbott was obliged to draw up a list of all monastic possessions and holdings.

In 1537 the mother house in Furness voluntarily submitted to dissolution, and specifically included its "inheritance in the Isle of Man" in what it conceded and surrendered to King Henry VIII..

Finally in 1540 came the dissolution.