St Oswald's Priory, Gloucester facts for kids
St Oswald's Priory was a special church and monastery built a long time ago in Gloucester, England. It was started by Æthelflæd, who was the daughter of the famous King Alfred the Great, and her husband Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia. They began building it in the late 880s or 890s. It looked very much like another important church called the Old Minster, Winchester. Today, it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site.
This priory was a key part of Gloucester when it was a fortified town called a Burh. Important rulers, like King Æthelstan, supported it. However, after the 1000s, it became less important. It turned into a smaller home for a group of priests called Canons regular. The priory was closed down in 1536. Later, during the English Civil War, the building was damaged and mostly pulled down in 1643.
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What is the History of St Oswald's Priory?
How was St Oswald's Priory Started?
A much older church, St Peter's Abbey, was founded in Gloucester around 679. It was started by Osric of the Hwicce, a local ruler. Then, near the end of the 800s, Æthelflæd, King Alfred's daughter, built a new church in a different part of Gloucester. This new church was also first named St Peter's.
In 909, a group of soldiers from West Saxon and Mercia went into Danish lands. They brought back some bones of Saint Oswald from Bardney Abbey in Lincolnshire. These bones were brought to the new church. After that, the priory was renamed St Oswald's to honor him.
Why was the Priory Important to Royalty?
St Oswald's Priory was founded when Gloucester was a new and important burh, or fortified town. Because of this, it was favored by the royal family. Both Æthelflæd and Æthelred were buried there. Æthelflæd's nephew, who would later become King Æthelstan, grew up in their home.
A very old document, copied in 1304, says that in 925, King Æthelstan gave special rights to St Oswald's. He did this "according to a promise of fatherly love which he had made with Æthelred." King Æthelstan gave a lot of money and support to St Oswald's. He might have even ordered special stone covers for the tombs of Æthelflæd and Æthelred. Before a new St Peter's Abbey was built in 1089, St Oswald's was the main place people visited when they came to Gloucester for religious reasons.
Why did the Priory Decline?
After a while, the priory became less well-known. During the time of King Cnut, its lands were used to support a royal helper. In 1089, Serlo, the Norman abbot of the original St Peter's, started building a huge new church. This church later became Gloucester Cathedral.
Because of this, St Oswald's lost much of its money and importance. It became a smaller house for Augustinian canons, who were a type of priest. The monastery was closed down in 1536. It then became a local church for St Catherine. However, this church was destroyed in 1643 during a battle in the English Civil War.
What is the Legacy of St Oswald's Priory Today?
Today, the ruins of the priory are a Grade 1 Listed building. This means they are protected because of their historical importance.
Some items found at the priory are now kept in the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery.
Who was Buried at St Oswald's Priory?
