Morimond II
The Englishman St Stephen Harding, then Abbot of Cîteaux, sent the first monks from there to found Morimond in 1115, and he travelled to Morimond himself upon the death of the first Abbot, Arnaud, in 1126, to install the Prior of Clairvaux, Gauthier, as his successor. Abbot Arnaud had wandered off, announcing his intention to go to Jerusalem, but died in Flanders, and St Stephen clearly wished to re-establish firmer order at Morimond in consequence. The house subsequently flourished under (Blessed) Abbot Gauthier, and his successor Blessed Otto. In 1147, under Abbot Rainald, Morimond was able to make its first foundation in England, Dore Abbey in Herefordshire. As things have turned out, this English foundation's abbey church has fortuitously survived, whereas at Morimond itself there is little left but ruins. After suffering during the 17th c wars of religion, then the Revolution, and then being despoiled and used a quarry for local buildings, on...