ANCHIN, ABBEY OF

Near Douai, Flanders, north France; a Benedictine foundation (1079) by two (later nine) local noblemen on land donated by several persons, including the bishop of cambrai, the suzerain lord, who confirmed the donation, and the cantor of Cambrai. To teach the monastic rule, Bishop Gerard II sent two monks from Hasnon, one of whom he made abbot. After a fire (1083), Hugh, dean of Cambrai and a skilled architect, used his wealth to rebuild the abbey. The church, consecrated in 1086, was soon too small and was rebuilt (1182–1230) with four towers and a magnificent interior (350 by 85 by 85 feet); 14 columns enclosed a choir 43 feet wide. Conventual buildings and an abbot's house also were built. Abbots Pierre Toulet (1449–64) and Hugh of Lobbes (1464–90) enriched the church with marble statues, alabaster, paintings, organs, sacred vessels, and a miter and cross of great value. Divine services were of unusual splendor in the 15th century. Abbot Charles Coguin (1511–46) began a new cloister which was decorated with sculpture, stained glass, and Biblical frescoes—one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Abbot Alvisus (1120–30, d. 1148), once prior of saint-vaast in Arras, devoted himself to the Cluniac reform and to temporal affairs. Callistus II confirmed new donations (1123), and the abbey came under papal protection. The virtuous and learned goswin (1130–65) fostered an active scriptorium and continued Alvisus's work after the latter became bishop of Cambrai. Jean de Batheries (1414–48) and Charles Coguin acquired many MSS. Jean Letailleur (1555–74) established a school of theology where Greek and Hebrew were taught, furnishing professors for the new University of douai (1562). Gaspard de Bovincourt (d. 1577), François de Bar (d. 1606), and Jean Despierres (d. 1664) were prominent authors.

Powerful and rich, Anchin had pontifical privileges from 1219; it was under the bishop of Arras but also was a member of the estates of Flanders and the Netherlands. It held many properties and houses, received tithes, and named pastors to 53 churches. It contested abbatial rights and privileges with lords and the bishop of Arras (1252–54). Philip II of Spain appointed Warnier de Daure abbot (1574–1610), and the kings of France appointed commendatory abbots from 1681 (see commendation). The zeal of the abbots offset the effects of disasters and wars. At the time of the french revolution monastic observance was good. Despite the desire of the 30 monks to remain at Anchin, the abbey was razed, gold and silver work and bells were melted down, and the community was dispersed.

Bibliography: a. escallier, L'Abbaye d'Anchin, 1079–1790 (Lille 1852). m. g. blayo, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912–) 2:1516–24. p. heliot, "Quelques monuments disparus de la Flandre wallonne: L'Abbaye d'Anchin," in Revue belge d'archéologie et d'histoire de l'art 28 (Brussels 1959) 129–173.

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