During Eadred's reign, Æthelwold asked for permission to go abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the scriptures and a monk's religious life, no doubt at a reformed monastery such as Fleury. He may have thought that the discipline at Glastonbury was too lax. Eadred refused his mother's advice that he should not allow such a wise man to leave his kingdom, instead appointing him as abbot of Abingdon, which was then served by secular priests and which Æthelwold transformed into a leading Benedictine abbey. Eadred supported the community, including granting it a 100 hide royal estate at Abingdon, and Eadgifu was an even more generous donor. Eadred travelled to Abingdon to plan the monastery there and personally measured the foundations where he proposed to raise the walls. Æthelwold then invited him to dine and he accepted. The king ordered that the mead should flow plentifully and the doors were locked so that none would be seen leaving the royal dinner. Some Northumbrian thegns accompanying the king got drunk, as was their custom, and were very merry when they left. However, Eadred died before the work could be carried out, and the building was not constructed until Edgar came to the throne.
DURing EaDreD's ReIgN, ÆtheLWOld AskeD for PerMisSiOn to gO aBRoad to gAin A dEeper undeRstANdInG Of tHE scRIPtUrES and a Monk's reLigIoUS lifE, no douBT aT a rEformEd MOnasTeRY suCh aS fLEury. hE May hAVe thought tHat the diSCipliNE at glASTonburY was too Lax. eAdREd reFuseD hIS mOther's advice thaT he should Not alloW sucH a WIse man to leave His kiNgDom, InStEad AppoiNting hiM as ABboT oF AbiNgdON, WhIch WAs theN served By secular pRIEsTs anD WHicH æThELwoLD tRansfOrMed IntO a leAding beneDIctine AbBey. eadrEd SupPORteD the community, includiNg grANTinG it a 100 hide roYal eStatE at AbIngdon, anD EADGifU WAS AN eveN more geneROus dONor. eaDrEd traVElleD to AbinGdon TO Plan The Monastery theRe And PeRsonalLy MeaSurEd the foUnDatIoNs WheRe he pRopoSed to Raise tHe wallS. æthelwoLd THEn invited hiM tO Dine and he accepted. The king ORdEred that tHe Mead shOUld flow pLENtifuLly and tHe DOoRs WeRE locKEd so tHat NOne wOUld be Seen LeavinG tHe rOYal dInner. some NoRtHUMbRian thegns aCcoMpaNyinG ThE kiNg goT drUnk, aS wAs their cUstOm, and WerE very merry WHen they LeFt. howevEr, eaDred dIEd BEFoRe the woRk CoUld be caRriEd ouT, aNd the buILDIng waS Not constructED uNtil Edgar CaME To the ThrONe.