The
increased number of monk priests within the community in the later
Middle Ages, and a growing demand for their prayers and masses,
meant that more altars and chapels were now required for private
prayer. As the aisles were no longer needed for access, they were
now screened off from the main body of the church and nine chantries
were inserted - five of these were in the south aisle and four
in the north aisle.(13)
Changes in the internal organisation of space,
therefore, reflected primarily changes in the community’s
needs, but they were also affected by legislative developments
within the Order. For
example, new rulings regarding burial within the Cistercian precinct
meant that from the late thirteenth century this was permitted
within the abbey churches, and not restricted to the galilee, chapter-house,
cloister or cemetery. This concession was first granted to patrons
and later to abbots.(14) The earliest
known lay burial within the church at Fountains is that of the
great nobleman, Roger
de Mowbray, who
was buried in the presbytery in 1298.(15) In
1315, Henry de Percy, lord of Alnwick, was buried in a choice location,
for his tombstone
was set before the High
Altar. The cover to his tomb still survives,
and shows him in knightly garb, complete with chain-mail.