Bridlington Priory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Priory Church of St Mary Bridlington |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bridlington |
| Diocese | York |
| Province | York |
The Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington, often called Bridlington Priory Church, is a special church in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is part of the Diocese of York.
This church stands on the site of a very old Augustinian priory. A priory is like a monastery where monks or canons live and pray. This one was started way back in 1113. It was later closed down during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1951, the church was given a special Grade I Listed Building status. This means it's a very important historic building.
Contents
History of Bridlington Priory
How the Priory Started
Bridlington Priory was founded around 1113. A man named Walter de Gant started it for a group called Augustinian Canons Regular. These were priests who lived together under a set of rules, similar to monks. It was one of the first Augustinian houses in England. There was also a convent next to it, which was a place for nuns.
King Henry I of England officially approved the priory. Before this priory, there was an older Saxon church and a nunnery on the same spot. When the priory was finished, it was huge! It was over 120 metres (400 feet) long and 23 metres (75 feet) wide. Its transept, which is the part that crosses the main church, was 45 metres (150 feet) long. The first leader, or prior, was probably named Guicheman or Wickeman.
The Priory's Early Years
Kings and important nobles liked the priory. Soon, it owned lots of land across Yorkshire. The Canons from Bridlington Priory even helped start Newburgh Priory in 1145.
King Stephen gave the priory special rights. It could keep property from people who broke the law or ran away within the town. It also got money from the harbour. Later, in 1200, King John gave the priory the right to hold a yearly fair in Bridlington.
During a conflict between King Stephen and Matilda, a powerful earl named William le Gros took over the priory. He forced the canons out and used the priory as a fort. Later, he gave the priory some land as a gift.
Kings like Henry IV and Henry V also helped the priory. They allowed it to receive income from the church in Scarborough. In 1388, King Richard II gave permission to add fortifications to the priory. However, the priory itself was never fully walled. Only one gate, the Baylegate, was a strong, fortified entrance. The priory also had a very large library, filled with many books.
When the Monasteries Closed Down
The priory was closed down in 1538 by King Henry VIII. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII closed many monasteries and priories across England.
Bridlington Priory was very rich when it was closed. Its yearly income was a lot of money back then, about £547. It owned land from Blubberhouses in the north all the way down to Spurn Point.
A surveyor for King Henry VIII, Richard Pollard, described the priory. The church was over 118 metres (390 feet) long. It had a Chapter House, a Treasury, a Cloister, the Prior's Hall, and an Infirmary. The quire, which is the part of the church where the choir sits, had beautiful wooden carvings. These were made by a famous craftsman named William Brownflete.
Sadly, almost all the buildings were destroyed. Only the nave, which is the main part of the church, was saved. It became the local parish church. The old gatehouse also survived and is now the Bayle Gate Museum. Some of the stones from the priory were even used to build the piers at Bridlington harbour. The last leader of the Priory, William Wode, faced serious consequences during this time because of his involvement in a protest.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
For 300 years after the priory closed, only the nave was used as the parish church. Only about a third of the building was used by people.
Starting in 1846, people in the parish began to raise money to fix up the church. They put a new roof on part of it. The large west window was opened up and filled with beautiful stained glass. The inside walls were painted white. The east window also got new stained glass. This work was done by a company called Paley and Austin.
Around 1874, the church hired a famous architect, Sir George Gilbert Scott. He completely refurbished the church, making it look much like it does today. This big restoration cost about £27,000, which was a huge amount of money back then!
The Priory Organ
The church has a wonderful organ. It was built in 1889 by a Belgian organ builder named Charles Anneessens. Over the years, some changes were made to it. Between 2004 and 2006, it was fully restored and made even bigger. The organ has been used in many recordings and even in a film!
Organists
- George Fox
- William Turner 1857 – ????
- J.W. Wilson
- J E W Lord 1889–1894
- Arthur Edgar Perry
- Arthur Charles Edwards 1896–1901
- George Pattman 1901–1904
- Bernard Johnson 1904–1909
- Arthur Percy Stephenson ca. 1912
- Sydney Weale 1914 – 1920
- Arthur Robinson 1919–1947
- Eric John Fairclough 1947–1950
- Mervyn John Byers 1952–1957
- Raymond Sunderland 1957–1977
- Geoffrey Pearce 1984–1987
- Michael Smith 1987–2019
- Paul Dewhurst 2020-
Organ Scholars
- Charlie Leeson 2012 – 2017
- Christopher Too 2012 – 2013
- Jake Leach 2017–2019
Famous People Connected to the Priory
- St John of Bridlington: An English saint who lived at the priory.
- Piers Langtoft: A writer who created a history of England in Anglo-Norman poetry.
- Robert of Bridlington: The fourth prior (leader) of the priory, who was also a theologian (someone who studies religion).
- Sir George Ripley: A 15th-century English alchemist, who tried to turn metals into gold.
- Ginger Lacey: A famous fighter pilot from the Battle of Britain. There is a special plaque for him in the Priory.
