List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches facts for kids
This article is about old religious buildings in England that used to be homes for monks and nuns, but are now used as local churches.
Hundreds of these religious homes, called abbeys, priories, and friaries, were built in England and Wales a long time ago. They were places where monks, friars, or nuns lived. These people had promised to live simply, obey their leaders, and not marry. Each home was led by an abbot or abbess (for abbeys) or a prior or prioress (for priories).
Most of these places were built between the 1000s and 1200s. They often owned a lot of land and property. People also gave them money and gifts, especially pilgrims. But by the 1300s, fewer people were joining. The Black Death also caused many deaths. People started giving their money to schools and local churches instead. By the early 1500s, many religious communities were very small. Some were even closed down by bishops, and their money was used to start schools and colleges at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Contents
The Dissolution of Monasteries
The big change for these religious homes was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This officially started in 1536. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, but the pope (the leader of the Catholic Church) would not let him. This led Henry to create the Church of England, separate from the pope.
Henry also wanted to get more money for the crown. So, he passed a law to close religious homes that earned less than £200 a year. About one-third of these homes were closed. This made some people angry, leading to a rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace. The rebellion failed, and more monasteries were closed. Leaders of these homes were pressured to give their buildings to the king. Some who refused were even executed. The very last religious house to close was Waltham Abbey in March 1540.
What Happened to the Buildings?
After the monasteries were closed, their wealth and properties became the king's. Many buildings were stripped of their valuable lead roofs and fell apart. Some parts were turned into large houses by new owners.
However, about 10% of these former monastic churches or buildings continued to be used for worship by local people.
- Some religious homes already shared part of their church with the local community, like Wymondham Abbey. These parts continued to be used as local churches.
- Wealthy towns or people sometimes bought a former monastic church to use as their new local church, like Selby Abbey.
- In some cases, a part of the monastic church was already used as a small local chapel. The priests there were allowed to stay and continue their work. Churches of the Augustinian order often had these chapels, so many of their churches survived.
- Churches of friaries, however, rarely continued as local churches. This was because friaries did not have the same kind of money to support a priest.
- Sometimes, old monastic buildings that had fallen into ruin were later fixed up and used again as local churches, thanks to donations from people.
Monasteries Becoming Cathedrals and Churches
Before the Dissolution, ten of England's medieval cathedrals were also abbeys. Eight of these, like Bath and Coventry, became regular cathedrals under Henry VIII. Six other former abbeys were even made into new cathedrals for new church areas.
Many other former abbeys and priories became parish churches. Two of these, Saint Albans and Southwark, later became cathedrals themselves, while still serving their local communities.
Sometimes, the entire old monastic church became a parish church, like Sherborne Abbey. Other times, only parts of the original church survived and were used, like the north aisle (side part) of the nave (main body) at Wroxall Priory. At Beaulieu Abbey, the old dining hall (refectory) was turned into a church. In a few cases, like Tilty Abbey, the chapel near the gatehouse became the local church.
Most of the former monastic churches that continued as small chapels eventually became full parish churches in the 1800s.
This list includes 118 former monastic buildings in England that are still used as parish churches or chapels today. Some of these stopped being monasteries much earlier, and some were converted to local use more recently. Only churches that still have significant parts of their original monastic structure are included. Buildings that never served as local churches, or those converted into cathedrals by Henry VIII, are not on this list. All these surviving monastic churches are protected as listed buildings by English Heritage, mostly at Grade I, which means they are very important.
Key
| Grade | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Grade I | Buildings that are super special and important, sometimes even worldwide. |
| Grade II* | Buildings that are very important and more than just special. |
| Grade II | Buildings that are important to the country and have special interest. |
Works
| Name | Location | Photograph | Order | Notes | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aconbury Priory | Aconbury, Herefordshire 51°59′51″N 2°42′08″W / 51.9974°N 2.7021°W |
 |
Augustine canonesses | The old parish Church of St John the Baptist (now no longer used) still has the whole priory church, including its nave (main part) and chancel (altar area). | II* |
| Amesbury Abbey | Amesbury, Wiltshire 51°10′19″N 1°47′03″W / 51.1719°N 1.7843°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The Church of St Mary and St Melor was built from the whole priory church, except for the very end of the nave. | I |
| Atherstone Priory | Atherstone, Warwickshire 52°34′43″N 1°32′47″W / 52.5786°N 1.5463°W |
 |
Austin friars | St Mary's church uses the chancel and the central tower of the priory. | II* |
| Barking Abbey | Barking, London
|
 |
Benedictine nuns | The chancel of St. Margaret's church includes a local chapel built in the abbey grounds. It was made bigger after the Reformation using parts from the old abbey. | I |
| Bath Abbey | Bath, Somerset 51°22′53″N 2°21′31″W / 51.3815°N 2.3587°W |
 |
Benedictine | The church of St Peter and St Paul was built from the entire old monastic cathedral church. | I |
| Beauchief Abbey | Beauchief, Derbyshire 53°20′00″N 1°30′03″W / 53.3332°N 1.5008°W |
 |
Premonstratensian | Only the west tower of the old abbey church remains. A private chapel was added in the 1600s, which became the parish church of St Thomas a Beckett in 1923. | II* |
| Beaulieu Abbey | Beaulieu, Hampshire 50°49′16″N 1°27′00″W / 50.8212°N 1.4501°W |
 |
Cistercian | The Church of the Blessed Virgin and Child was built from the old refectory (dining hall). | I |
| Binham Priory | Binham, Norfolk 52°55′13″N 0°56′47″E / 52.9203°N 0.9464°E |
Sep2004.jpg) |
Benedictine | St Mary's Church was built from the nave (main part) of the priory. | I |
| Birkenhead Priory | Birkenhead, Merseyside 53°23′22″N 3°00′41″W / 53.3894°N 3.0114°W |
 |
Benedictine | The chapter house was turned into a local chapel after the monasteries closed. The parish church of St Mary (now in ruins) was built next to it later. | II* |
| Bishopsgate St Helen's Priory | Bishopsgate, Greater London 51°30′53″N 0°04′54″W / 51.5148°N 0.0818°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | St Helen's Church combines the priory church and the local church, which used to be separate. | I |
| Blackmore Priory | Blackmore, Essex 51°41′25″N 0°19′04″E / 51.6904°N 0.3178°E |
 |
Augustinian | The Church of St Laurence was built from the nave of the priory. | I |
| Blanchland Abbey | Blanchland, Northumberland 54°50′54″N 2°03′15″W / 54.8484°N 2.0541°W |
 |
Premonstratensian | St Mary's Church includes the nave, the north transept (side arm), and the tower from the abbey church. | I |
| Blyth Priory | Blyth, Nottinghamshire 53°22′44″N 1°03′48″W / 53.3788°N 1.0634°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of St Mary and St Martin combines the monastic nave with the local church's side aisle. | I |
| Bolton Priory | Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire 53°59′02″N 1°53′19″W / 53.9838°N 1.8886°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Mary's Church was built from the nave of the priory church. | I |
| Bourne Abbey | Bourne, Lincolnshire 52°45′59″N 0°22′33″W / 52.7663°N 0.3757°W |
 |
Augustinian | The Church of St Peter and St Paul includes the nave and tower of the abbey. | I |
| Boxgrove Priory | Boxgrove, West Sussex 50°51′36″N 0°42′39″W / 50.8600°N 0.7109°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of St Mary and St Blaize includes the chancel and the central tower of the priory church. | I |
| Breedon Priory | Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire 52°42′09″N 1°02′18″W / 52.7024°N 1.0383°W |
 |
Augustinian | The Church of St Mary and St Hardulph includes the chancel and the central tower of the priory. | I |
| Bridlington Priory | Bridlington, East Yorkshire 54°05′40″N 0°12′06″W / 54.0944°N 0.2018°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Mary's Church was built from the nave of the priory church. | I |
| Brinkburn Priory | Brinkburn, Northumberland 55°16′44″N 1°49′08″W / 55.2789°N 1.8189°W |
 |
Augustinian | The Priory Church of St. Peter and St. Paul still has the whole priory church, which was fixed up and re-roofed in the 1800s. | I |
| Bristol St James' Priory | Bristol 51°27′31″N 2°35′35″W / 51.4587°N 2.5930°W |
 |
Benedictine | The nave has been kept from the priory, but it has been changed a lot. | I |
| Bromfield Priory | Bromfield, Shropshire 52°23′12″N 2°45′45″W / 52.3868°N 2.7626°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Mary's Church includes the nave, the north aisle, the old crossing (now the chancel), and the tower. | I |
| Bungay Priory | Bungay, Suffolk 52°27′20″N 1°26′17″E / 52.4556°N 1.4380°E |
 |
Benedictine nuns | St Mary's Church includes the nave of the priory church. | I |
| Carisbrooke Priory | Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight 50°41′29″N 1°18′48″W / 50.6914°N 1.3133°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Mary's parish church is made from the nave of the priory church. | I |
| Canons Ashby Priory | Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire 52°09′00″N 1°09′24″W / 52.1500°N 1.1568°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Mary's Church includes the tower and part of the nave. | I |
| Cartmel Priory | Cartmel, Cumbria 54°12′04″N 2°57′09″W / 54.2011°N 2.9524°W |
 |
Augustinian | The whole priory church was turned into the Church of St Mary. | I |
| Chetwold Priory | Chetwode, Buckinghamshire 51°57′47″N 1°04′09″W / 51.9630°N 1.0693°W |
Mar2006.jpg) |
Augustinian | The chancel remains as the church of St Mary and St Nicholas, but it has been rebuilt a lot. | I |
| Chirbury Priory | Chirbury, Shropshire 52°34′46″N 3°05′29″W / 52.5794°N 3.0915°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Michael's Church includes the nave and the west tower. | I |
| Christchurch Priory | Christchurch, Dorset 50°43′56″N 1°46′28″W / 50.7322°N 1.7744°W |
 |
Augustinian | Holy Trinity church was built from the whole priory church. | I |
| Clerkenwell St John's Priory | Clerkenwell, London 51°31′19″N 0°06′09″W / 51.5220°N 0.1025°W |
 |
Knights Hospitaller | The crypt (underground part) of the priory church is still there, below the parish church of St John Clerkenwell. | I |
| Coggeshall Abbey | Coggeshall, Essex 51°52′06″N 0°41′28″E / 51.8683°N 0.6910°E |
 |
Cistercian | The gatehouse chapel was turned into the Church of St Nicholas. | I |
| Cranborne Priory | Cranborne, Dorset 50°55′07″N 1°55′26″W / 50.9187°N 1.9238°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of St Mary and St Bartholomew used to be the priory church. | I |
| Croyland Abbey | Crowland, Lincolnshire 52°40′35″N 0°09′54″W / 52.6764°N 0.1651°W |
 |
Benedictine | The north aisle (side part) of the abbey was turned into the parish church of St Mary, St Bartholomew and St Guthlac. | I |
| Dale Abbey | Dale Abbey, Derbyshire 52°56′34″N 1°21′03″W / 52.9429°N 1.3507°W |
 |
Premonstratensian | All Saints parish church was made from the old infirmary chapel. It is next to a farmhouse that used to be a pub! | I |
| Davington Priory | Davington, Kent 51°19′09″N 0°53′04″E / 51.3193°N 0.8845°E |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The Church of St Mary Magdalen and St Lawrence includes the nave and tower of the priory. | II* |
| Deeping St. James Priory | Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire 52°40′18″N 0°17′23″W / 52.6717°N 0.2896°W |
 |
Benedictine | St James' Church includes the nave of the priory. | I |
| Deerhurst Priory | Deerhurst, Gloucestershire 51°58′05″N 2°11′24″W / 51.9680°N 2.1900°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Mary's Church, Deerhurst has the tower and the nave of the priory. | I |
| Dorchester Abbey | Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire 51°38′37″N 1°09′51″W / 51.6436°N 1.1643°W |
 |
Augustinian | The Church of St Peter and St Paul was built from the whole abbey church. | I |
| Dore Abbey | Abbey Dore, Herefordshire 51°58′07″N 2°53′37″W / 51.9687°N 2.8935°W |
 |
Cistercian | St Mary's Church includes the chancel, transepts (side arms), and the tower of the abbey. | I |
| Dunstable Priory | Dunstable, Bedfordshire 51°53′10″N 0°31′03″W / 51.8860°N 0.5176°W |
 |
Augustinian | Most of the nave and the northwest tower are still there as the church of St Peter. | I |
| Dunster Priory | Dunster, Somerset 51°11′00″N 3°26′45″W / 51.1833°N 3.4458°W |
 |
Benedictine | St George's Church was built from the priory church. | I |
| Edington Priory | Edington, Wiltshire 51°16′44″N 2°06′25″W / 51.2789°N 2.1069°W |
 |
Bonshommes | The Church of St Mary, St Katherine and All Saints was built from the whole priory church. | I |
| Elstow Abbey | Elstow, Bedfordshire 52°06′54″N 0°28′10″W / 52.1150°N 0.4694°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The church of St Mary and St Helena includes most of the nave and the separate tower of the abbey church. | I |
| Farewell Priory | Farewell, Staffordshire 52°42′08″N 1°52′42″W / 52.7022°N 1.8783°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | St Bartholomew's Church includes the chancel from the priory church. | II* |
| Freiston Priory | Freiston, Lincolnshire 52°58′25″N 0°02′59″E / 52.9736°N 0.0497°E |
 |
Benedictine | St James' Church includes the nave and the tower. | I |
| Great Bricett Priory | Great Bricett, Suffolk 52°07′01″N 0°58′34″E / 52.1169°N 0.9762°E |
 |
Augustinian | The nave of the priory church is part of the Church of St Mary and St Laurence. | I |
| Great Malvern Priory | Malvern, Worcestershire 52°06′38″N 2°19′44″W / 52.1105°N 2.3288°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of St Mary and St Michael was built from the priory church. It is almost complete, except for the south transept. | I |
| Gresley Priory | Church Gresley, Derbyshire 52°45′35″N 1°34′01″W / 52.7598°N 1.5669°W |
 |
Augustinian | The Church of Saint Mary and Saint George includes part of the nave of the priory. | II* |
| Hatfield Broad Oak Priory | Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex 51°49′37″N 0°14′35″E / 51.8269°N 0.2430°E |
 |
Benedictine | The west tower is still there, and the Church of St Mary the Virgin was built from the nave of the priory. | I |
| Hatfield Peverel Priory | Hatfield Peverel, Essex 51°46′08″N 0°36′10″E / 51.7690°N 0.6029°E |
 |
Benedictine | St Andrew's church was built from the nave of the priory. | II* |
| Hexham Priory | Hexham, Northumberland 54°58′18″N 2°06′09″W / 54.9716°N 2.1026°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Andrew's Priory Church includes the chancel, the transepts, and the central tower. | I |
| Heynings Priory | Knaith, Lincolnshire 53°21′07″N 0°45′28″W / 53.3520°N 0.7577°W |
 |
Cistercian nuns | The nave of St Mary's Church, Knaith, might use the transept from the priory church. | II* |
| Holm Cultram Abbey | Abbeytown, Cumbria 54°50′43″N 3°16′58″W / 54.8454°N 3.2829°W |
 |
Cistercian | Most of the nave has survived as St Mary's Church, Abbeytown. | I |
| Hurley Priory | Hurley, Berkshire 51°32′58″N 0°48′37″W / 51.5495°N 0.8103°W |
 |
Benedictine | The nave from the old priory is still there as the church of St Mary. | II* |
| Ingham Priory | Ingham, Norfolk 52°46′45″N 1°32′38″E / 52.7790672°N 1.5437937°E |
 |
Trinitarian Canons | The parish church was made from the priory church, which is still complete. | I |
| Jarrow Priory | Jarrow, Tyne and Wear 54°58′49″N 1°28′20″W / 54.9804°N 1.4723°W |
 |
Benedictine | The tower is still there, and the original nave is now the chancel of St Paul's Church. | I |
| Kirkstead Abbey | Kirkstead, Lincolnshire 53°08′10″N 0°13′21″W / 53.1362°N 0.2224°W |
 |
Cistercian | The gatehouse chapel was turned into the church of St Leonard's Without. | I |
| Kirby Bellars Priory | Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire 52°45′23″N 0°56′18″W / 52.7563°N 0.9382°W |
 |
Augustinian Canons Regular | The Parish Church of Saint Peter's, which was probably the priory church, is still mostly complete, with only the north aisle missing. | I |
| Kyme Priory | South Kyme, Lincolnshire 53°01′57″N 0°15′32″W / 53.0326°N 0.2588°W |
 |
Augustinian | The western end of the south aisle of the priory is part of the Church of St Mary and All Saints. | II* |
| Lancaster Priory | Lancaster, Lancashire 54°03′03″N 2°48′21″W / 54.0507°N 2.8057°W |
 |
Benedictine afterwards Bridgettine Canons | This church used to be a small Benedictine monastery. Later, it was given to the Bridgettines. The 15th-century parish church of St. Mary also served the male canons. | I |
| Lanercost Priory | Lanercost, Cumbria 54°57′58″N 2°41′42″W / 54.9661°N 2.6951°W |
 |
Augustinian | The nave is used as the parish church of St Mary Magdelene. | I |
| Lapley Priory | Lapley, Staffordshire 52°42′50″N 2°11′25″W / 52.7139°N 2.1903°W |
 |
Benedictine | All Saints Church includes the chancel, nave and tower of the priory church. | I |
| Lastingham Abbey | Lastingham, North Yorkshire 54°18′14″N 0°52′55″W / 54.304°N 0.882°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Mary's church includes the apse, chancel, crossing, and crypt of the abbey church. These parts were built after the abbey started in 1078. However, the monks moved away in 1086, and the building became a parish church. | I |
| Lenton Priory | Lenton, Nottinghamshire 52°56′55″N 1°10′31″W / 52.9485°N 1.1753°W |
 |
Cluniac | St Anthony's parish church was rebuilt in the 1800s from the priory's infirmary chapel. | II |
| Leominster Priory | Leominster, Herefordshire 52°13′46″N 2°44′09″W / 52.2294°N 2.7357°W |
 |
Benedictine | The monastic nave and west tower were combined with the old local church's nave and aisle to form the Priory Church of St Peter and St Paul. | I |
| Leonard Stanley Priory | Leonard Stanley, Gloucestershire 51°43′40″N 2°17′16″W / 51.7277°N 2.2877°W |
 |
Augustinian; later Benedictine | St Swithin's Church was built from the whole priory. | I |
| Letheringham Priory | Letheringham, Suffolk 52°10′44″N 1°18′59″E / 52.1790°N 1.3165°E |
 |
Augustinian | St Mary's Church includes the tower and the nave of the priory church. | II* |
| Little Dunmow Priory | Little Dunmow, Essex 51°51′54″N 0°24′14″E / 51.8651°N 0.4038°E |
 |
Augustinian | The parish church of St Mary was made from the lady chapel of the priory church. | I |
| Little Malvern Priory | Little Malvern, Worcestershire 52°03′41″N 2°20′12″W / 52.0614°N 2.3366°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Giles' Church includes the chancel and the crossing tower of the priory church. | I |
| Malmesbury Abbey | Malmesbury, Wiltshire 51°35′05″N 2°05′54″W / 51.5847°N 2.0984°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of St Mary and St Aldhelm was built from the nave of the abbey church. The south porch was also kept. | I |
| Malton Priory | Old Malton, North Yorkshire 54°08′33″N 0°46′44″W / 54.1426°N 0.7790°W |
 |
Gilbertine | The Priory Church of St Mary still has part of the nave and the southwest tower. | I |
| Marrick Priory | Marrick, North Yorkshire 54°13′24″N 1°32′08″W / 54.2232°N 1.5356°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The church of St Andrew was used as a chapel until 1948, with the tower still standing from the priory. It is now an outdoor education center. | II* |
| Merevale Abbey | Merevale, Warwickshire 52°34′36″N 1°34′22″W / 52.5766°N 1.5728°W |
 |
Cistercian | The Church of Our Lady was built from the gatehouse chapel. | I |
| Milton Abbey | Milton Abbas, Dorset 50°49′14″N 2°17′12″W / 50.8206°N 2.2867°W |
 |
Benedictine | The choir, crossing, tower, and transepts of the abbey church are still there. After the Reformation, it was used as a chapel for the village. Since 1954, it has been used by a public school. | I |
| Minster-in-Sheppey Priory | Minster, Swale, Kent 51°25′20″N 0°48′43″E / 51.4222°N 0.8120°E |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The Abbey Church of St Mary and St Sexburga includes the nave and part of the chancel of the abbey. | I |
| Monks Kirby Priory | Monks Kirby, Warwickshire 52°26′40″N 1°19′12″W / 52.4444°N 1.3199°W |
 |
Benedictine | The priory church became the parish church of St Edith, Monks Kirby. | I |
| Monkwearmouth Priory | Monkwearmouth, Tyne and Wear 54°54′47″N 1°22′30″W / 54.9131°N 1.3749°W |
 |
Benedictine | The tower, porch, and west wall of the 7th-century monastic church now form the front of St Peter's parish church. | I |
| Nuneaton Priory | Nuneaton, Warwickshire 52°31′35″N 1°28′38″W / 52.5265°N 1.4773°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The priory church was turned into a house, but in the 1800s, it was rebuilt on its old foundations as a parish church of St Mary. The old monastic crossing pillars are still there. | II |
| Nun Monkton Priory | Nun Monkton, North Yorkshire 54°00′53″N 1°13′15″W / 54.0148°N 1.2208°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | St Mary's Church includes the nave of the priory. | I |
| Owston Priory | Owston and Newbold, Leicestershire 52°39′50″N 0°51′23″W / 52.6639°N 0.8564°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Andrew's Church includes the chancel, the tower, and a chapel from the priory. | I |
| Pamber Priory | Monk Sherborne, Hampshire 51°19′09″N 1°07′39″W / 51.3192°N 1.1274°W |
 |
Benedictine | The crossing, tower, and chancel remain from the priory as the church of the Holy Trinity, Our Lady, and St John the Baptist. | I |
| Pershore Abbey | Pershore, Worcestershire 52°06′37″N 2°04′39″W / 52.1104°N 2.0775°W |
 |
Benedictine | The Church of Holy Cross with St Edburgha includes the chancel, the central tower, and the south transept of the abbey church. | I |
| Pilton Priory | Pilton, Devon 51°05′18″N 4°03′45″W / 51.0884°N 4.0625°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Mary the Virgin's Church was made from the priory buildings. | I |
| Polesworth Abbey | Polesworth, Warwickshire 52°37′08″N 1°36′45″W / 52.6190°N 1.6126°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | St Editha's Church includes the nave and the north tower of the abbey church. | II* |
| Portchester Priory | Portchester, Hampshire 50°50′17″N 1°06′59″W / 50.8380°N 1.1164°W |
 |
Augustinian | St Mary's parish church was built as the priory church in the 1100s. However, the canons (monks) moved away after 20 years. | I |
| Ramsey Abbey | Ramsey, Cambridgeshire 52°26′57″N 0°06′08″W / 52.4491°N 0.1022°W |
 |
Benedictine | St Thomas a Beckett's Church was made from the abbey's old guest hall around 1222 CE. | I |
| Reading, Greyfriars Church |
Reading, Berkshire 51°27′24″N 0°58′35″W / 51.4568°N 0.9765°W |
 |
Franciscan friars | The nave and transepts are still there, but they have been almost completely rebuilt. | I |
| Redlingfield Priory | Redlingfield, Suffolk 52°17′38″N 1°12′22″E / 52.294°N 1.206°E |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The nuns shared the choir of St Andrew's church with the local people, and this part is still there. | II |
| Romsey Abbey | Romsey, Hampshire 50°59′23″N 1°30′05″W / 50.9896°N 1.5013°W |
 |
Benedictine nuns | The Church of St Mary was built from the whole abbey. | I |
| Royston Priory | Royston, Hertfordshire 52°02′53″N 0°01′24″W / 52.0480°N 0.0234°W |
 |
Augustinian | The nave of the Church of St John the Baptist uses the choir of the priory. | I |
| Rumburgh Priory | Rumburgh, Suffolk 52°23′05″N 1°26′48″E / 52.3846°N 1.4466°E |
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Benedictine | The parish church of St Michael and St Felix was made from the priory church. | I |
| St Albans Abbey | St Albans, Hertfordshire 51°45′02″N 0°20′32″W / 51.750556°N 0.342222°W |
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Benedictine | When the monasteries closed, the town bought the Abbey Church to use as a parish church. It became a cathedral in 1877. | I |
| St Bees Priory | St Bees, Cumbria 54°29′38″N 3°35′36″W / 54.4939°N 3.5934°W |
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Benedictine | The nave was kept as the parish church. It now also uses the tower crossing and transepts. The chancel was re-roofed in 1817 and restored in 2012. | I |
| St Germans Priory | St Germans, Cornwall 50°23′48″N 4°18′34″W / 50.3967°N 4.3095°W |
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Augustinian | The Church of St Germanus was built from the nave and west towers of the priory church. | I |
| St Michael's Mount | St Michael's Mount, Cornwall 50°06′58″N 5°28′38″W / 50.1160°N 5.4772°W |
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Benedictine | The priory was closed by King Henry V. The church continued as a chapel for people living on the tidal island. | I |
| Selby Abbey | Selby, North Yorkshire 53°47′03″N 1°04′02″W / 53.7841°N 1.0671°W |
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Benedictine | After the Dissolution, the monastic church was left empty for many years. But in 1618, the people of Selby bought and fixed it up. It is now the complete Church of St Mary and St Germain. | I |
| Sempringham Priory | Sempringham, Lincolnshire 52°52′56″N 0°21′26″W / 52.8821°N 0.3571°W |
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Gilbertine | Until about 1140, the first house of the Gilbertine order shared the parish church of St Andrew. The surviving nave of the current church might be from that time. | I |
| Sherborne Abbey | Sherborne, Dorset 50°56′48″N 2°31′00″W / 50.9467°N 2.5167°W |
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Benedictine | When the monasteries closed in 1539, the people of Sherborne bought the monastic church to replace their old parish church. It is now the complete Abbey Church of St Mary. | I |
| Shrewsbury Abbey | Shrewsbury, Shropshire 52°42′27″N 2°44′38″W / 52.7076°N 2.7438°W |
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Benedictine | The Church of the Holy Cross includes the abbey's nave and west tower. | I |
| Smithfield St Bartholomew's Priory | Smithfield, Greater London 51°31′08″N 0°05′59″W / 51.5189°N 0.0997°W |
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Augustinian | The chancel and crossing have been included in the Church of St Bartholomew-the-Great. | I |
| Southwark Priory | Southwark, Greater London 51°30′22″N 0°05′21″W / 51.5061°N 0.0892°W |
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Augustinian | After the monasteries closed, the church became the parish church of St Saviour's. It was made into a cathedral in 1905. The choir, transepts, tower, and crossing from the priory church are still there. | I |
| Stogursey Priory | Stogursey, Somerset 51°10′47″N 3°08′21″W / 51.1796°N 3.1391°W |
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Benedictine | St Andrew's Church was built from the priory church. | I |
| Stow Minster | Stow, Lincolnshire, 53°19′39″N 0°40′38″W / 53.3276°N 0.6773°W |
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Benedictine | The nave, crossing, and transepts of St Mary's church are from the old Saxon minster and collegiate church. It was rebuilt and given to Benedictine monks in 1091, but the monks left after five years. | I |
| Swine Priory | Swine, East Yorkshire 53°48′23″N 0°16′45″W / 53.8063°N 0.2791°W |
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Cistercian nuns | St Mary's Church includes the chancel of the priory church. | I |
| Temple Church | Inner Temple, London 51°30′45″N 0°06′32″W / 51.5125°N 0.109°W |
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Knights Templar, then Knights Hospitaller | St Mary's church still has the whole original Templar Church. It is used as both a parish church and a private chapel for the Inns of Court. | I |
| Tewkesbury Abbey | Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire 51°59′25″N 2°09′39″W / 51.9902°N 2.1608°W |
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Benedictine | The current church of St Mary was built from the whole original abbey church. | I |
| Thorney Abbey | Thorney, Cambridgeshire 52°37′13″N 0°06′26″W / 52.6204°N 0.1071°W |
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Benedictine | The current church of St Mary and St Botolph includes part of the abbey's nave. | I |
| Thurgarton Priory | Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire 53°02′08″N 0°58′12″W / 53.0356°N 0.9700°W |
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Augustinian | The Priory Church of St. Peter includes part of the nave and the tower. | I |
| Tilty Abbey | Tilty, Essex 51°54′51″N 0°19′29″E / 51.9142°N 0.3247°E |
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Cistercian | The gatehouse chapel was turned into the Church of St Mary the Virgin. | I |
| Tutbury Priory | Tutbury, Staffordshire 52°51′32″N 1°41′16″W / 52.8590°N 1.6877°W |
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Benedictine | The nave of the priory church is part of St Mary's Church. | I |
| Upholland Priory | Upholland, Lancashire 53°32′25″N 2°43′16″W / 53.5404°N 2.7211°W |
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Benedictine | The Church of St Thomas the Martyr uses the old chancel of the priory as its nave. | I |
| Waltham Abbey | Waltham Abbey, Essex 51°41′15″N 0°00′13″W / 51.6876°N 0.0035°W |
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Augustinian | The nave of the abbey was turned into the Church of the Holy Cross and St Lawrence. | I |
| Weybourne Priory | Weybourne, Norfolk 52°56′35″N 1°08′30″E / 52.9431°N 1.1416°E |
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Augustinian | The nave and chancel of the parish church of All Saints are next to the arches and walls of the old monastic nave and tower. | I |
| Witham Charterhouse | Witham Friary, Somerset 51°09′47″N 2°21′58″W / 51.1631°N 2.3660°W |
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Carthusian | The lay brother's church is now used as the Parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St John Baptist and All Saints, Witham Friary. | I |
| Woodkirk Priory | Woodkirk, West Yorkshire 53°43′18″N 1°35′22″W / 53.7216°N 1.5895°W |
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Augustinian | St Mary's church was rebuilt in the 1800s, but it still has the west tower of the medieval priory and parish church. | II |
| Worksop Priory | Worksop, Nottinghamshire 53°18′14″N 1°06′57″W / 53.3038°N 1.1157°W |
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Augustinian | The west towers, nave, and Lady chapel are part of the current church of St Mary and St Cuthbert. | I |
| Wroxall Priory | Wroxall, Warwickshire 52°20′03″N 1°40′33″W / 52.3342°N 1.6758°W |
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Benedictine | The north aisle of the priory church has been included in St Leonard's Church. | I |
| Wymondham Abbey | Wymondham, Norfolk 52°34′14″N 1°06′27″E / 52.5705°N 1.1074°E |
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Benedictine | The current church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury was built from the nave of the abbey. | I |
| York Holy Trinity Priory |
Micklegate, York, North Yorkshire 53°57′23″N 1°05′21″W / 53.9565°N 1.0891°W |
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Benedictine | Holy Trinity Church still has the nave and the northwest tower of the priory church. | I |
See also
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List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.