The church of St Mary the Virgin, Little Dunmow, became an Augustinian Priory when canons were placed in it by the Lord of the manor, Geoffrey Baynard, in 1106. Geoffrey and his mother Juga had endowed the church with lands, and further endowments were added by his heirs, Robert FitzRichard, Walter FitzRobert and Robert FitzWalter, so that by 1190 it held lands in Henham, Norton, Sturston, Passefeld, Barnston and Paglesham and the churches of Burnham, Hempnall and Poslingworth.