St. Robert of Newminster, was born at Gargrave in Yorkshire. He spent the early years of his priesthood as rector of his hometown but later joined the Benedictine community at Whitby. In 1132 he helped to establish Fountains Abbey which embraced the Cistercian rule of St Bernard of Clairvaux. Fountains was to have a daughter abbey at Newminster near Morpeth and Robert became the first abbot in 1138/9. He died on 7th June 1159. St. Robert is included in the Roman Martyrology.