Bath Abbey facts for kids
Bath Abbey is a very old and beautiful church in the city of Bath, England. Its full name is the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath. It's a special kind of church called an Anglican parish church. It was also once a monastery, which is a home for monks.
This amazing building was first started way back in the 7th century. It was changed and rebuilt many times over the years, especially in the 10th, 12th, and 16th centuries. Bath Abbey is a fantastic example of Gothic architecture, known for its tall arches and detailed stonework. It's one of the biggest and best examples of this style in western England. Before it became a parish church, it was a Benedictine monastery and even a cathedral for a time.
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Discovering Bath Abbey's History
Bath Abbey has a long and interesting past. Many important events happened here over hundreds of years.
How Bath Abbey Began
In the year 675, a king named Osric gave land near Bath to a lady called Abbess Berta. She used this land to start a place for nuns. Later, this religious house became a monastery for monks. It was supported by the Bishop of Worcester.
Becoming a Cathedral
Around 1090, King William Rufus gave Bath to a doctor named John of Tours. He became the Bishop of Wells and the Abbot of Bath. He decided to move his main church from Wells to Bath Abbey. This made Bath Abbey a cathedral, which is the main church for a bishop.
Times of Change and Restoration
Over time, the church became quite damaged. But it was fixed up just before a big event called the dissolution of the monasteries. During this time, many monasteries in England were closed down. Bath Abbey was stripped of its valuable materials like lead, iron, and glass.
Luckily, it was restored again later by Elizabeth I, a famous queen. From 1860 until today, the church has had many more repairs and improvements. These efforts have kept the building in excellent condition.
The Bishop's Seat
Even though Bath is a much larger city than Wells, the main church for the bishops has usually been Wells Cathedral since the 13th century. Since 1245, the bishop's area has been known as 'Bath and Wells'.
Related Places to Explore
Images for kids
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Looking west from the choir, the fan vaulting is mostly 19th-century
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On the west front, angels climb Jacob's Ladder
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The abbey in 1875
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Bath Abbey c. 1900
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Bath Abbey, vaults
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The 16th-century West Door
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The stained glass and altar at the eastern end of the nave
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Memorial to Senator William Bingham, who died in Bath
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The organ in the north transept, rebuilt in 1997 by Klais Orgelbau
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Bath Abbey and the Roman baths
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An angel on the way up, Bath Abbey west elevation
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19th-century stained glass window showing the coronation of King Edgar by Dunstan
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Bath Abbey
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Flying buttresses and a pinnacle at the abbey
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Bath Abbey exterior as viewed from the west
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Close up Bath Abbey Building
See also
In Spanish: Abadía de Bath para niños
