Skänninge Abbey, also known as St. Ingrid's Priory, St. Martin's Priory or, simply, as Skänninge Nunnery, was a Roman Catholic convent for females of the Dominican Order in Skänninge in Sweden, in operation from 1272 until 1544. It was founded by Saint Ingrid of Skänninge, and the center of her cult, and as such, it was often referred to as St. Ingrid's Priory. Located near the church dedicated to Martin of Tours, it was originally named St. Martin's Priory, though this name was rarely used in practice. The common name for it was Skänninge Abbey, but as there was also a convent for male members of the Dominican Order in Skänninge, it was often called Skänninge Nunnery to separate it from the male monastery.
History
The monastery was founded by Saint Ingrid of Skänninge, after her return from her pilgrimages in Europe. Having been widowed, she founded a convent and became its first abbess. Though founded in 1272, it was not formerly inaugurated before 12 August 1281, and it was given its privilege by Magnus III of Sweden in 1282. Coming from the elite of the Swedish nobility, Ingrid and her family was able to donate large estates to the establishment. The convent was built around a church dedicated to Saint Martin, which became its chapel, and was therefore formerly named St. Martin's Priory, though in reality, this name was not often used. On 2 September 1282, its abbess, Saint Ingrid, died, and her convent became the center of her cult and the target for pilgrimages, which made the name St. Ingrid's Priory much more common. The cult of Saint Ingrid benefited to convent and made it rich, and it was a successful rival to the male monastery of the same order in the city. In 1353, Magnus IV of Sweden donated Bjälbo to the convent. It was fashionable among wealthy people to be buried in the cemetery of the convent, and large donations were made to it in connections of the burial. Bridget of Sweden placed her daughter Cecilia Ulvsdotter in the convent in the 14th-century. In 1505, the very wealthy Dominican nunnery of St. John's Priory, Kalmar moved its members to the convent and transferred all its property and privileges to it. The city of Skänninge also benefited from the cult. In 1507, the Translation of Saint Ingrid was performed in the convent with great celebration in the city.
Dissolution
By the Swedish Reformation of 1527, Catholic convents were confiscated by the crown in accordance with the Reduction of Gustav I of Sweden and banned from accepting new novices, while the existing members were allowed to leave to convents or remain supported by a royal allowance. In 1531, the king demanded that the nuns move to Vadstena Abbey, but they refused. In 1544, however, the nuns from Skänninge, as the nuns from Askeby Abbey had been in 1529, were forcibly moved to Vreta Abbey. The remains of the abbey were excavated in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.
