GILBERTINES. – A religious order, the only one of English origin, founded by St Gilbert of Sempringham c. 1131–35, with double monasteries on the model of the Order of Fontevrault. At its foundation it received advice and land donations from William, abbot of Rievaulx, and Alexander, bishop of Lincoln.
In four separate sections of the monasteries lived the choir nuns, the lay sisters, the lay brothers, and the priests called canons, all under a single administration managed by the nuns. These, under the Rule of St Benedict and Cistercian statutes, partly lived an exclusively contemplative life and partly attended to domestic duties. The religious men, under the so‑called Rule of St Augustine and statutes composed by St Gilbert, had the lay brothers working the land and providing for the community’s needs, while the canons—added later in 1148—handled the monastery’s spiritual direction. The Order soon spread widely, establishing new houses on estates donated by nobles and prelates. It never extended beyond England except for two houses in Ireland. It was approved by Pope Eugenius III in 1148. At the founder’s death it numbered 700 religious and 500 nuns. When suppressed by Henry VIII along with the other Orders, it counted 26 monasteries.
The entire Order was governed by a Master General, also called Master of Sempringham from the place of his residence. He was elected at the annual General Chapter, which every monastery’s superior and superioress attended. His authority was absolute, and he made regular visitations of his houses accompanied by some canons and nuns who then took part in the General Chapter. The religious wore a black tunic with a white mantle and hood lined with lambskin; the nuns wore white garments similar in shape to those of the men.