Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds was the title used by the head of the Benedictine monastery in Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in the county of Suffolk, England. The following table lists the abbots from the foundation of the abbey in 1020 until its dissolution in 1539.
Abbots of Bury St. Edmunds From To Notes1 Uvius/ Ufi 1020 1044 Founded St George's Priory, Thetford.A History of the County of Suffolk: Volume 2 Pages 85-86: Houses of Benedictine nuns: Priory of St George, Thetford www.british-history.ac.uk, accessed 13 January 20212 Leofstan 1044 1065 3 Baldwin 1065 1097 4 Robert I 1100 1102 Son of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester5 Robert II 1102 1107 6 Alebold of Jerusalem1114 1119 7 Anselm of St Saba1121 1146Nephew of Anselm of Canterbury. Elected bishop of London in 1138, but was not consecrated bishop8 Ording 1146 1156 See note on dates of Anselm above - elected abbot while Anselm was bishop-elect (1138), then re-elected after Anselm's death9 Hugo/Hugh I 1157 1180 Refounded St George's Priory, Thetford c. 1160. Discussed at length in the Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond.10 Samson of Tottington1182 1211 Discussed at length in the Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond.11 Hugh of Northwold1215 1229 1213 locally, 1215 with Papal consent; became Bishop of Ely12 Richard 1229 1234 Also known as 'Richard of the Isle of Ely' 13 Henry of Rushbrook1235 1248 14 Edmund of Walpole1248 1256 15 Simon of Luton1257 1279 16 John of Northwold 1279 1301 17 Thomas of Tottington1302 1312 18 Richard of Draughton1312 1335 19 William of Bernham 1335 1362 William died the last day of February 1361 – 136220 Henry of Hunstanton1362 1362 Henry's abbacy was very brief21 John of Brinkley1362 1379 John of Brinkley elected on Henry's demise22 John of Timworth1379 1389 The Papal nominee for Abbot was Edmund Bromefield for 5 years of this time23 William of Cratfield1390 1415 24 William of Exeter1415 1429 25 William Curteys 1429 1446 26 William Babington1446 1453 27 John Bohun1453 1469 28 Robert Ixworth1469 1474 See Ixworth Priory, Ixworth29 Richard Hengham 1474 1479 30 Thomas Rattlesden1479 1497 See Rattlesden31 William Cadenham1497 1513 32 John Reeve1513 1539 Sometimes 'John Reeve of Melford';NICHOLAS ROGERS Scraps from Bury St Edmunds www.thericardian.online, accessed 25 September 2020 died on 31 March 1540
On 4 November 1539, the abbey was surrendered. The surrender is signed by Abbot John Reeve, Prior Thomas Ringstede (alias Dennis), and by forty-two other monks. All were awarded pensions, of varying amounts.Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Bury St Edmunds Pages 56-72 www.british-history.ac.uk, accessed 25 September 2020
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