The Book of Margery Kempe

An anchorite is a religious person who lives semi-secluded in a space called an “anchor-hold,” typically attached to a church. This cell contained slots for speaking with outsiders and receiving food as well as viewing the church altar. Julian of Norwich was a well-known anchorite (or anchoress) in the Late Middle Ages who lived as a hermit in a cell attached to St. Julian’s Church. This seclusion allowed these men and women to focus on their inner spiritual journeys. Margery’s book mentions numerous anchorites with whom she is connected in eastern England, including her primary confessor, “Master R.” These descriptions indicate that this form of ascetic life was popular among the religiously devout in late medieval England.

A confessor is a priest who hears confessions of sins. Margery Kempe mentions several confessors throughout her book, but her closest and most important was an anchorite near King’s Lynn called “Master R.” in the text. This man was probably Robert Spryngolde. Margery consistently describes his support for her in the face of numerous detractors and the importance of his spiritual guidance.