Shrewsbury Abbey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shrewsbury Abbey
Abbey Church of the Holy Cross, Shrewsbury
Church of the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Shrewsbury
52°42′27″N 2°44′39″W / 52.70750°N 2.74417°W / 52.70750; -2.74417
Location	Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church with choral tradition
History
Status	Active
Founded	1083
Dedication	Holy Cross
Relics held	St Winifred
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Scheduled monument, Grade I listed building
Style	Romanesque, Gothic
Groundbreaking	11th century
Completed	14th century
Specifications
Number of towers	1
Materials	Red sandstone
Administration
Parish	Holy Cross, Shrewsbury
Diocese	Lichfield
Province	Canterbury

The Abbey Church of the Holy Cross, often called Shrewsbury Abbey, is a very old church in Shrewsbury, England. It's the main town in Shropshire.

This Abbey started in 1083 as a Benedictine monastery. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery, a powerful Norman Earl. The Abbey grew to be one of the most important and famous abbeys in England. It was also a key place for pilgrimage (religious journeys).

Most of the Abbey was destroyed in the 1500s. But the main part, called the nave, survived. It became a local church and is still used today. The Abbey is a special listed building (Grade I). This means it's very important historically. It's also part of the Greater Churches Group. You can find it east of Shrewsbury town centre, near the English Bridge. The area around it is known as Abbey Foregate.

History of Shrewsbury Abbey

How the Abbey Started

Seal of Shrewsbury Abbey from around 1200. It shows St Peter with the Keys of Heaven.

Before the Normans arrived, a small Saxon chapel stood here. It was dedicated to St Peter. This chapel was built by a man named Siward.

In 1071, William the Conqueror gave Shropshire to Roger de Montgomery. Earl Roger then gave the chapel to his clerk, Odelerius. Odelerius's son, Orderic Vitalis, later became a famous historian. He wrote about how his father convinced Earl Roger to build a Benedictine monastery. The main goal was to help Earl Roger's soul.

On February 25, 1083, Earl Roger promised to build the new Abbey. He gave the land outside the east gate of Shrewsbury for its construction. Two monks from a French Abbey, Reginald and Frodo, came to help. They started planning and building the monks' living areas. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions the Abbey being built. It says Earl Roger was building an Abbey and had given it the monastery of St Peter. This suggests the earlier chapel was already a small monastery.

Regular life at the Abbey began around 1087. The first abbot (leader of the monks) was Fulchred. Earl Roger and his family also gave many estates in England to a French Abbey. This was done for the souls of important people, including William the Conqueror. For a while, the French Abbey tried to control Shrewsbury Abbey. But Shrewsbury Abbey eventually became independent.

Odelerius later sent his son, Benedict, to live as a monk at Shrewsbury Abbey. Both Odelerius and Earl Roger eventually became monks at the Abbey before they died.

Challenges and Changes

The inside of Shrewsbury Abbey, showing its beautiful architecture.

Earl Roger and his friends gave the Abbey many properties and ways to earn money. This included rural farms, city buildings, mills, and church incomes. In 1086, the Abbey's wealth was about £46.

However, the Abbey's wealth was at risk. Earl Roger's son, Robert of Bellême, rebelled against King Henry I in 1102. The king took Robert's lands, and the Abbey lost its powerful local protector. This made it harder for the Abbey to get all the promised gifts. For example, Siward's son, Aldred, refused to give up an estate until the Abbot paid him £15. The Abbey also faced many legal battles over its land.

Despite these issues, King Henry I generally supported Shrewsbury Abbey. He confirmed gifts of land and protected the Abbey from officials. He also gave the monks the right to collect fees from all grain ground in Shrewsbury. This gave them a monopoly over milling in the town. They also gained control over fishing rights at the town's bridges.

St. Winifred's Story

A page from a book about St Winifred, written by Robert of Shrewsbury.

Around 1137-1138, a monk named Robert of Shrewsbury brought the remains of St Winifred from Wales to Shrewsbury. Robert wrote a book about her life and this journey.

The story says her body was dug up and carried to Shrewsbury. This journey took a week on foot. When it arrived, a young man was miraculously able to walk again. The relics were then placed on the Abbey church's altar. More miracles were reported there. Later, St. Winifred's relics were enshrined in the Abbey.

Robert of Shrewsbury helped make St. Winifred a very popular saint. People came on pilgrimages to Shrewsbury from the 14th century onwards. Robert later became the fifth abbot. He worked hard to protect the Abbey's interests.

The Abbey also collected relics of other saints. For example, Abbot Adam, Robert's successor, brought back items from Thomas Becket, including parts of his clothing and a cloth stained with his blood. These relics were important for attracting visitors and support to the Abbey.

Monastic Life and Management

The Benedictine Rule was not as strict as some other monastic orders. Shrewsbury Abbey was also located near a major town, making it less isolated. The Abbey was well-managed and didn't face major problems in the 12th century. It owned properties in and around Shrewsbury, like orchards and a vineyard. In the 13th century, it expanded its city properties. Most of its rural lands were rented to farmers or managed by lay people. Monks themselves did not farm the land.

Monastic life at the Abbey was generally good. In 1323-24, a bishop visited the Abbey. He found only minor issues, like monks missing meals and novices leaving too early. Thirty years later, after the Black Death, many buildings were in disrepair. But this was a common problem due to the plague.

In later medieval times, the Abbey had between 12 and 18 monks. One monk usually led Morville Priory, a smaller monastery linked to Shrewsbury. The monks held regular church services. The chapel of St Mary, behind the main altar, held the tomb of Earl Roger. It was used for special Masses for important visitors.

The Abbey also supported its monks' education. In 1333, the Pope allowed the Abbey to use income from a church to fund two monks studying theology at a university.

Abbots and Their Role

The king was the patron of the Abbey. However, it's not clear if kings were involved in choosing Shrewsbury's abbots in the 12th century. There was a dispute over the third abbot, Herbert. He was removed and replaced by Ralph. In 1250, during the reign of King Henry III, there was a big argument about who should be the next abbot. The Pope eventually chose Henry, a monk from another Abbey.

The abbots became important political figures. After Earl Robert's lands were taken by the Crown, each Abbot of Shrewsbury became a direct tenant of the king. They were required to attend Parliament. Abbot Luke even bought a house in London to make it easier to attend Parliament. By the time of Edward III, the Abbot of Shrewsbury was one of only 28 abbots summoned to Parliament. The abbots were allowed to wear a special hat called a mitre from 1397.

List of Abbots

Abbey's Wealth and Lands

The Abbey's lands and income came from all over Shropshire. They also had valuable churches, salt pans, and fisheries. Over time, they received gifts of land in other counties like Lancashire and Cheshire. Church property was usually kept forever. However, sometimes the Abbey had to give up land if there were doubts about its ownership.

Key Endowments

The Abbey received many gifts of land and property over the centuries. These included:

• Land around the Abbey site in Shrewsbury.
• Farms and churches in places like Charlton, Boreton, and Morville.
• Mills and urban houses in Shrewsbury.
• Fisheries in Thelwall and salt pans in Nantwich.
• Townships and churches in various parts of Shropshire and beyond.

Later Middle Ages: Challenges and Growth

The economic crisis of the early 14th century, including the Great Famine, affected monasteries like Shrewsbury Abbey. They started renting out more of their land to get a steady income. The Black Death brought an even worse crisis. Many people died, leading to a shortage of workers. Buildings fell into disrepair.

In the 14th century, major rebuilding happened at the west end of the Abbey. A drawing from 1658 shows a large west window. It suggests the window was added around 1388, during Abbot Nicholas Stevens' time. Stevens was on good terms with King Richard II.

Abbot Stevens was very determined to protect and expand the Abbey's interests. He tried to take control of Sandwell Priory in Staffordshire. He was also involved in a situation where monks from Shrewsbury Abbey took the relics of St Beuno (St Winifred's uncle) from another place and brought them to the Abbey. Even though the Abbey was fined, they were allowed to keep the relics. A new shrine for St Winifred was also built during Stevens' time.

Carved stone from Shrewsbury Abbey. It shows St Winifred with John the Baptist and Beuno.

The worship of St Winifred became even more important during this time. A famous preacher, John Mirk, wrote a sermon for St Winifred's day. King Henry V even planned to create a special chapel for St Winifred at Shrewsbury. This plan was finally put into action in 1487 by Abbot Thomas Mynde. He set up a group of people to support the chapel.

Decline and Dissolution

Seal of Shrewsbury Abbey from 1539.

By the time of King Henry VIII, the Abbey was facing problems. Abbot Richard Lye used the Abbey's money to benefit his own family. Later, Bishop visits complained about unpaid debts, poor accounting, and buildings falling apart. The infirmary (monk's hospital) was in ruins.

In 1534, the Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church. This led to the English Reformation. King Henry VIII then began the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was a process where the king took control of church property.

In 1535, the Abbey's income was valued at about £527. This made it one of the larger monasteries. In 1539, the king moved to dissolve these larger monasteries. Henry VIII even thought about making Shrewsbury Abbey a cathedral. But this plan was never completed.

Shrewsbury Abbey was one of the last to surrender. It was dissolved on January 24, 1540. The abbot and monks were given pensions (regular payments).

After the Reformation

Sketch of Shrewsbury Abbey from 1658. It shows parts of the old monastic buildings still standing.

After the Abbey was dissolved, its land was rented out and then sold to property investors. Eventually, it passed through several families.

The western part of the Abbey (the nave, side aisles, and tower) was saved and became a local church. The rest of the buildings were either reused or torn down. The church suffered from neglect. Lead was removed from the roof, causing damage. Many monastic buildings were still standing in 1743. But most were demolished when Thomas Telford built his A5 road through the Abbey grounds around 1836. Today, only the old refectory pulpit and a single wall of another building remain from the original monastic complex.

In the late 19th century, there was talk again of making the Abbey a cathedral for Shropshire. But this idea was not approved.

Holy Cross Church Today

Medieval seal of the Abbey Foregate parish.

The Abbey church had always served as the church for the Abbey Foregate parish. It started as the chapel founded by Siward. The church was controlled by the Abbey community.

After the Abbey was dissolved, the parish church continued to use the remaining Abbey building. The church was damaged during the English Civil War in the 1640s. Repairs were made using stones from the old Abbey buildings. During this time, it was often called Abbey Foregate Church.

Notable Vicars

Flooding in Abbey Foregate, 2000.

Notable Curates

• Walsham How - Curate 1848-1851

The Abbey Church Today

Much of the original 11th-century Norman building is still part of the Abbey church today. You can see the thick pillars in the eastern part of the nave. Stones with three carved figures, representing John the Baptist, Saint Winefride, and St. Beuno, were found and put back in their original place.

In the 19th century, major restoration work was done. The east end of the church was redesigned. When the restoration was finished in 1894, the Vicar, Rev William Henry Draper, wrote a hymn for the occasion.

Inside the church, there are stone war memorials for parishioners who died in the World Wars. One name on the First World War tablet is the famous war poet Wilfred Owen. In the churchyard, there's a sculpture called "Symmetry." It was put there in 1993 to mark Owen's 100th birthday. It includes a line from his poem Strange Meeting.

The area around the Abbey has sometimes experienced flooding in recent years.

The clock on the bell tower. Notice the unusual way '10' is shown as 'f' instead of 'X' in Roman numerals.

Abbey Bells

When the Abbey was dissolved, it had two sets of five bells. In 1673, a new set of eight bells was made. These have been replaced over time by the current bells. The bells were rung fully until at least 1895. But in 1909, concerns about the tower's safety led to the bells being rehung. They are now rung using an Ellacombe apparatus. This allows one person to ring them.

• Treble and 2nd bells: Thomas Mears II of London, 1825
• 3rd bell: John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, 1884
• 4th bell: John Briant of Hertford, 1812
• 5th bell: Charles and George Mears of London, 1846
• 6th bell: Abel Rudhall of Gloucester, 1745
• 7th bell: John Warner & Sons of London, 1877
• Tenor bell: Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester, 1713

Music at the Abbey

The choir stalls and organ inside the Abbey.

Choirs

The Abbey is known for its excellent church music. Records from the mid-1800s show there was a choir of boys and men. This choir continued until after the Second World War. Today, the choir is a mixed adult choir. They sing for most services and also have choral scholars. The choir often visits cathedrals to sing when the cathedral's own choir is away.

The Organ

The Abbey has a beautiful organ. It was built in 1911 by William Hill and Son. It was meant to be as grand as a cathedral organ. However, due to lack of money, the original plan was never fully completed. Some parts were added later, but it's still not entirely finished. Despite this, the organ's quality and rich sound are still impressive after more than 100 years. It fits perfectly with the beauty of this old Abbey church.

Over time, parts of the organ have become less reliable. A plan to renovate and complete the organ was started in 2011. They aimed to raise £400,000 for the work. Recently, two new modern blowers have greatly improved the organ's sound and reliability. Work on the renovation is still happening in 2021.

Organists and Directors of Music

The Cadfael Chronicles

Shrewsbury Abbey is the setting for the popular mystery books, The Cadfael Chronicles, by Ellis Peters. In these stories, the main character is a fictional monk named Brother Cadfael. He lives at the Abbey in the early 12th century and solves historical murder mysteries. The stories are set between about 1135 and 1145, during a time of civil war in England called The Anarchy. This was a fight for the crown between King Stephen and Empress Maud.

Burials at the Abbey

Important People Buried Here

• Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (the Abbey's founder)
• Hugh of Montgomery, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (Roger's son)
• William FitzAlan, Lord of Oswestry

The Churchyard

Most of the current churchyard covers where the monastic church's east end used to be. It became the town's first public cemetery in 1841. However, it wasn't very popular. In 1888, it was sold back to the Abbey Church. The main public cemetery in Shrewsbury, at Longden Road, opened in 1856 and became more widely used.

See also

• Diocese of Lichfield
• Bishop of Shrewsbury
• Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
• Listed buildings in Shrewsbury (outer areas)
• List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches
• List of ecclesiastical restorations and alterations by J. L. Pearson