Priory of Plessis-Grimoult

In 1047, the local baron, Grimoult of Plessis, was executed for an attempted coup against the Duke of Normandy and his lands were given to the duke's half brother, the Bishop of Bayeaux, to become part of his diocese.[2] In 1131, the local church was dedicated to Saint Stephen.

Around 1135, William the Conqueror's former chaplain, Richard Samson, was the local priest. He brought a community of Canons regular to Plessis-Grimoult and in so doing became the first Prior there. The canons lived in Samson's own presbytery at that time. In 1153 under Samson's successor, the cannons moved to Champ Osburt. Under Prior Henri I the canons moved to the Chateau de Vire. The church building and priory in its current location were built in the late 13 century under the direction of Prior Guillaume Causson, Henri I's successor. Only the priory's entryway remains standing today.[3]

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet became the tutor to the Grand Dauphin in 1671. The time his new position required him to spend at court meant he could no longer serve as Bishop of Condom. Because of this, he lost access to all the monetary benefits he was entitled to as Bishop and could not afford to live the lavish lifestyle that came with living at court. To compensate his son's tutor, Louis XIV appointed him to be the prior of Plessis-Grimoult. This provided Bossuet with a steady income, without requiring too much of his time.

During his time as prior, he had a dispute with Julian de Saint-Germain, the priest of Maisoncelles-la-Jourdain, over the collection of tithes. There was a trial on the 18th of August, 1677, which found that Saint-Germain had to pay Bossuet an annual sum of 230 livres in exchange for Bossuet giving up his right to collect tithes in Maisoncelles.[4]

The Priory had 35 Priors from its founding to the nationalization of church property during the French Revolution.