Dorchester Abbey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorchester Abbey |
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| Abbey Church of St Peter & St Paul, Dorchester | |
Dorchester Abbey viewed from the south
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| Location | High Street, Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire OX10 7HH |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Dorchester Abbey |
| History | |
| Founded | 1140 |
| Founder(s) | Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln |
| Cult(s) present | Saint Birinus |
| Relics held | Shrine of Saint Birinus |
| Past bishop(s) | Saint Birinus |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Oxford |
Dorchester Abbey is a historic Church of England parish church. It is located in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire, about 8 miles southeast of Oxford. This church was once a large Norman abbey. It was built on the site of an even older Saxon cathedral.
Contents
History of Dorchester Abbey
Dorchester Abbey was founded in 1140. Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln started it for a group of monks called Augustinian Canons Regular. These monks wore white robes, unlike most Augustinians who wore black.
Dorchester was an important place long before the abbey. It was a Roman town. Later, it became part of the Mercian kingdom. From AD 634, it was the home of a bishop. Saint Birinus was the first bishop sent there by Pope Honorius I. This bishopric moved to Lincoln in 1085.
The abbey was dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and Birinus. It received many gifts of land and money. It also had twelve parishes under its control. The first abbot was likely Alured, mentioned in records from 1146. The last abbot was John Mershe, who became abbot in 1533.
In 1536, a big change happened. King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. This event is known as the Dissolution of the monasteries. Dorchester Abbey's monastic buildings were destroyed. Saint Birinus's shrine was also lost.
However, the church building itself was saved! A local man named Richard Beauforest paid King Henry VIII £140. In 1554, he gave the church to the people of Dorchester parish. Later, in 1602, the church's tower was rebuilt.
The Church Building
The church you see today was built by the Augustinian Canons. You can still find parts of older Saxon walls on the north side. These were probably part of the ancient cathedral. The church is about 230 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 55 feet high.
The north transept (the part that sticks out like the arms of a cross) and its doorway are from the Norman period. Other parts show different styles of English Gothic architecture. The north side of the nave (the main part of the church) and the chancel arch are Early English Gothic. The choir and south side are Decorated Gothic. The south porch is from the later Perpendicular Gothic style.
The very beautiful sanctuary area was built around 1330. It has amazing decorated windows. One famous window is called the Jesse Tree window. The sanctuary also has fancy carved seats called sedilia and a basin called a piscina.
Inside, you can see one of the few lead fonts left in England. There are also old frescoes (wall paintings) from 1340. Many monuments are also found here. One well-known stone carving is of a "swaggering knight." People once thought it was Sir John Holcombe. Now, it is believed to be William de Valence the Younger, who died in 1282.
From 1845 onwards, the church was restored over about 40 years. Several famous architects worked on it. These included William Butterfield and Sir George Gilbert Scott.
In 1993, a Union Jack flag was placed in the abbey. This flag had covered the coffins of prisoners of war. They were held at a camp in Borneo during World War II.
Burials at Dorchester Abbey
Many important people are buried here, including:
- Saint Birinus
- Sir John Drayton (died 1417), whose special brass memorial is in the Abbey.
- Wulfwig
- John Stonor
- Hugh Segrave
Dorchester Abbey Today
Today, Dorchester Abbey is still a busy parish church. It also hosts many concerts and cultural events.
Did you know? The famous alternative rock band Radiohead used the church. They recorded orchestral parts for their albums Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) here.
Between 1998 and 2006, a special committee raised £4,000,000. This money helped with big improvements to the abbey. They added the Cloister Gallery, which is managed by the Dorchester Museum Committee. Old medieval and Victorian wall paintings were also restored. The Dorchester Abbey Museum was even recognized for a major prize in 2006. The abbey now has a better heating system. It also has a modern kitchen and serving area in the Tower room.
The abbey is open every day for visitors. You can visit from 8 a.m. until dusk.
See also
- List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches
- Bishop of Dorchester
