BRIDGITTINES, an order of Augustinian canonesses founded by St. Bridget of Sweden (q.v.) c. 1350, and approved by Urban V. in 1370. It spread widely in Sweden and Norway and in Northern Europe, and played a remarkable part in pro moting culture and literature in Scandinavia ; to this is to be attributed the fact that the head house at Vastein, by Lake Vetter, was not suppressed till 1595• In England, the famous Bridgittine convent of Syon at Isleworth, Middlesex, was founded and royally endowed by Henry V. in 1415, and was among the few religious houses restored in Mary's reign. On Elizabeth's accession the community migrated to the Low Countries, and finally (1594) settled in Lisbon. Here they remained, always recruiting their numbers from England, till 1861, when they re turned. Syon House is now established at Chudleigh in Devon; and there are a few Bridgittine convents on the Continent.
See A. Hamilton in Dublin Review, 1888, "The Nuns of Syon" ; Max Heimbucher, Orden u. Kongregationen (1907), ii. § 83 ; Herzog Hauck, Realencyklopddie (ed. 3), art. "Birgitta." (E. C. B.)