The Abbey of St John the Baptist (French: Abbaye Saint-Jean de Falaise), in the diocese of Séez, in Falaise, Normandy, was an Augustinian abbey for Premonstratensian Canons and hospital founded in 1127[1] by Goinfrid, (French: Gonfroy,[2] Latin: Gonfridus[3]).
A pilgrim had died of hunger and exhaustion having taken shelter in a barn belonging to Goinfrid, son of Roger or Rou,[2] and when the dead body was discovered the next morning the population of the town of Falaise was much saddened.
[3] In 1130 a papal bull confirming the foundation was given at Rouen, capital of Normandy, by Pope Innocent II, with the express consent of King Henry I of England.
[3] In 1133 the Hospital was re-dedicated to St John the Baptist and a new church was built on the site.
[5] In 1157 Henry II of England confirmed the use of "whatever they need in his wood of Gufern at Argentan for firing and building", as well as permission for an annual fair at Michaelmas.