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Katherine of Sutton, Abbess of Barking (abbess 1358-1376), was a Catholic woman, known for her innovative techniques and creative plays that she wrote during her time at Barking Abbey.

Life in Barking Abbey
Barking Abbey, located in Essex, was one of the largest and wealthiest abbeys under Benedictine Rule in the mid-fourteenth century. On Anglo-Saxon foundation, Barking Abbey dates back to the year 666, with enough space to accommodate thirty-seven nuns in addition to the abbess. There were several lands and properties, whose revenues contributed to the budget for the convent, and the majority of the women living in the convent were also very wealthy and paid large dowries to enter the congregation. The nuns were very well educated, including fluency in Latin, which attracted many women of power to join. In fact, Barking Abbey would only take in women of nobility and wealth, so it is almost certain that Katherine was a woman of high stature. Records even show that three princesses and two queens had held the position of abbess in Barking Abbey, emphasizing the nobility of the convent at this time. Katherine of Sutton is considered a baroness in her own right through her position as abbess in this prestigious convent.

Abbess of Barking
Katherine held office from 1358 to 1376, during the peak of Barking Abbey’s existence. When she became the abbess of Barking Abbey in 1358, she inherited a very powerful position of authority and publicity. As the abbess, she was responsible for both the political and theological affairs of the convent. She was also responsible for the safety and well-being of all nuns in her convent, in addition to leading and planning the liturgical ceremonies. Typically in English convents, the nun of the highest ranking was considered the supreme authority and had the most responsibility. Specifically, the abbess was required to provide goods and services for royal wars, as well as housing criminals until trial. In order to display her power, the abbess carried a staff; a wand-like rod similar to that of a bishop. The most historically significant power that Katherine had as an abbess was the ability to initiate changes in the liturgical practices of the convent. This was particularly significant because although some women during this time period were able to hold power in a clerical position, a man was usually present as the overall supervisor. In the case of an abbess, there was always a bishop alongside her in office, however it is unclear as to whether or not she had to report to him before making any official changes or decisions. If any changes were made to the liturgical processes, the abbess would record them in the Ordinale, a customary manuscript of Barking’s customs. This book was passed down to each abbess, and was only for her eyes only. Regardless of whether or not she had to report to the Bishop of England, Katherine made several changes to the liturgical process of the convent. Under her progressive authority, Katherine incorporated performing arts into the celebration of Easter, in an effort to stimulate the audience and continue their devotion towards God.

Easter Plays
Lady Katherine is credited with the production of several religious plays, otherwise categorized as liturgical drama. These plays were constructed to enhance the religious experience of the lay people during liturgy. Lady Katherine was aware that the people attending the services were becoming increasingly more withdrawn in their devotion to the church and their faith. She truly catered to the devotional needs of the public, as she incorporated both educational matter and visual elements into her plays to stimulate the interest and adoration of the people during the Easter celebrations. Although these plays were not considered unique in comparison to pre-existing dramas at the time, they were different in that they engaged not only the lay people, but also the nuns in the convent. Moreover, the plays are also noted to have been very realistic and graphic, which made the experience both unique and exciting. There were four plays (Easter dramas) total: Depositio, Descensus, Elevatio, and Visitatio Sepulchri.

Depositio - Good Friday
The first of the four plays, Depositio, was celebrated on Good Friday. It involved the participation of priests, the abbess, as well as the convent community. The Image of Christ is taken down from the cross and his wounds are cleaned. This image of washing Christ’s wounds with wine and water had not been found in other texts before, making it very unique. Depositio ends with the burial of the cross. Some historians claim that the burial represents a reenactment of Christ’s death in order to make the experience as realistic as possible.

Descensus Christi (Harrowing of Hell) - Easter Day
Descensus Christi represents the time between Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection on Easter Day. Christ travels through hell and opens the gates to heaven. In this convent-wide ceremony, the abbess along with a few priests would go into a chapel and shut the doors, signifying the souls of the patriarchs in limbo while awaiting Christ’s descent into hell. This was then followed by another priest and two deacons arriving at the door with the resurrection cross and lighted candles, representing Christ’s arrival at the gates of Hell. The doorway is finally opened when the priest sings the antiphon, Tollite portas, representing Christ’s command for Hell to open its gates.

Elevatio - Easter Day
Elevatio includes a ritual of the cross being retrieved from its grave and delivered to the alter of the holy trinity. The priest enters the sepulchre, or tomb, of Christ and carries out the host and the cross. This action exemplifies the resurrection of Christ.

The Visitatio - Easter Day
The three Marys, played by nuns, visit Christ’s tomb and discover that the body has vanished and they announce his resurrection to the apostles.

Setting the Stage
Lady Katherine’s liturgical dramas were one of a kind and have been credited with setting the stage for several other dramas in later years. The theatrical literature of late medieval France, Germany and Britain displays noticeable characteristics, modeled after the plays at Barking Abbey.

“The First English Woman Playwright”
Lady Katherine of Sutton is credited with the production of the first English woman playwright. What amazes historians to this day is that she provided directions in so much detail, that it is meant to be used as a rubric, creating a clear image of the play itself. The documentation is incredible as it outlines the location, time, and dates in extreme detail; telling us exactly how the nuns were running the convent during this time period. Reenactments were a major component of these dramas that Katherine devised. This was significant because it made the experience very real for everyone participating. Every act had historical significance, but also put both the actors and the audience in the story to experience first-hand what really happened in the event being presented. This form of theatre was designed to reinforce the faith of the Catholic people, and to represent the divinity of the sacred events being portrayed. It was a way for people to see what was so important about Easter, by having them experience the events that led up to the resurrection of Christ, rather than solely being read scriptures and attending lectures by a priest. Katherine’s plays also demonstrated gender boundaries, or lack thereof, which we may not have expected in the middle ages. The Ordinale describes the nuns acting in the plays as the three Marys, and also the abbess’ impersonation of a patriarch in the play, “Harrowing of Hell”. It was much more common to see male actors dominating in other social aspects of society in this time-period. For example, Katherine could not sit in parliament because she was a woman, yet she possessed ample power within her convent. At this time, it was not common for middle-class women to write for the theatres, regardless of their talents, however noblewomen were able to accomplish this task due to their rank in society. Being an abbess gave Katherine the authority and power that she needed to write these plays and put them into action. Although we know very little of Katherine’s personal life outside of Barking Abbey, she has been renowned as an extremely successful woman for her time, and her contributions have become a literary model for several works throughout history in late medieval France, Germany, and Britain.

Independence in a Patriarchal Society
Regardless of personal desires, women in the middle ages were limited in their lifestyle choices. The most common choices were to either get married or become a nun. Unrelatedly to the path chosen, women still had to pay the price in a form of a dowry. Marriage was often seen as a business transaction at this time. Furthermore, married women did not have control over their lives, for there was always a male authority figure present such as their father or husband. The alternative option of becoming a nun was seen as an honorable choice. Joining the church allowed women to attain an education and gain more independence in their lives, compared to that of married women. Since these convents were inhabited by the nuns, they were also responsible for its finances and upkeep; they would make loans, employ workers, and purchase goods and land to support themselves. Although these women were undoubtedly intelligent, chastity was known to be the greatest achievement of a nun in the fourteenth century. Although nuns did not marry, they were still somewhat restricted because they were not allowed to be out in the public eye. This taboo was meant to protect their chastity and overall purity. Katherine of Sutton was exceptionally powerful for a woman during this time period. Not only was she a nun, but also a leader. As the abbess of such a location, she would have been the woman of highest economic ranking. Clearly, Katherine was a woman of nobility since she was able to join such a prestigious convent alongside royal and wealthy individuals. In addition to her economic status, Katherine was also a very bold and independent woman; a rarity amongst women under patriarchal authority, yet also common for a woman in her position. Not afraid to make changes and carryout what she deemed necessary; Katherine was a truly unique and progressive leader.