Wimborne Minster (church) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wimborne Minster |
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| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Cuthburga |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | Central Tower: 84 ft (26 m) West Tower: 95 ft (29 m) |
| Bells | 13 change ringing bells, 2 clock bells |
| Tenor bell weight | 29 long cwt 2 qr 20 lb (3,324 lb or 1,508 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wimborne Minster |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
Wimborne Minster is a very old and important church in Wimborne, Dorset, England. It has been around for over 1300 years! This special church is famous for its unique chained library. This library is one of only a few in the world where books are still chained to their shelves.
Wimborne Minster used to be a monastery and a nunnery (a place where nuns live). King Æthelred of Wessex is even buried here.
Contents
A Look Back: The Minster's Story
How Wimborne Minster Began
The Minster is named after Saint Cuthburga. She was the sister of King Ine and wife of King Aldfrith. Around the year 705, Saint Cuthburga started a Benedictine abbey for nuns here.
Other important women were educated at this monastery. Saint Walpurga lived here for 26 years before becoming a missionary in Germany. Leoba also studied here. Over the next 100 years, the abbey and a nearby monastery for men grew very important.
In 871, King Æthelred I was buried at the Minster. He was the older brother of Alfred the Great. Later, in 899, Æthelred's son, Æthelwold, tried to become king. He came to Wimborne, probably because his father was buried there. He hoped to gain support, but he failed and had to leave.
From Abbey to College Church
In 1013, the women's monastery was destroyed by the Danes. It was never rebuilt. However, the main abbey building survived. In 1043, Edward the Confessor started a college of canons (a group of priests) at the Minster.
Between 1120 and 1180, the Normans rebuilt and updated the Minster. This was to support the new college of priests.
In 1318, King Edward II made the Minster a "royal peculiar". This meant it was special and did not have to follow the rules of the local bishop. The choir even wore special scarlet robes because of this!
In 1496, Lady Margaret Beaufort built a small chapel inside the Minster. She was the great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt and mother of King Henry VII. When King Henry VIII ruled, he took away much of the Minster's wealth. But parts of the monastery were added to the Minster to save them from being destroyed.
After Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I gave some of the Minster's property back to Wimborne. Later, King Charles I also helped the Minster. During the English Civil War, Charles I's coat of arms was painted over. But when Charles II became king, it was quickly put back.
In 1846, the "royal peculiar" status ended. Today, the church is a place for people to visit and worship.
Amazing Architecture
The Minster's central tower and nave (the main part of the church) were built in Saxon times. But most of the building you see today is Norman in style. It also has parts added later in the Gothic style.
One of its most famous features is a working astronomical clock. This clock rings every hour. It has a colorful figure called a quarterjack that moves. The Minster is built using local Dorset limestone and New Forest stone.
The Minster is about 198 feet long. The main part of the church is about 23 feet wide. The tall western tower is 95 feet high. The smaller tower, over the middle of the church, is 84 feet high. A spire (a tall, pointed roof) used to be on top of this smaller tower. But it fell down in a storm around 1600.
The Minster is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
The Chained Library: Books on Chains!
Before Henry VIII's reign, the Minster's old Treasury held many valuable items. These included things like a piece of the true cross and cloth from the Shroud.
Since 1686, this room has held a very important chained library. This library was one of the first public libraries in the UK. It is still the second-largest chained library today!
Some of the amazing books here include:
- A handwritten book from 1343 made on lambskin.
- A book made for the court of Henry VIII.
- A very old book printed in 1495 about the works of Saint Anselm.
- A book from 1522 called "Paraphrase of Erasmus," with a title page designed by the famous artist Holbein.
Volunteers run the library. You can visit it on weekdays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2 PM to 4 PM. It is closed during the winter.
The Minster's Bells
Since 1911, the west tower has held ten bells. The oldest bell was cast in 1385 and was in the central tower. But the central tower was not strong enough for more heavy bells. So, in 1464, the west tower was built to hold five bells.
In 1629, the oldest bell was recast (melted down and made again). At that time, the Minster had the 'Bell of St. Cuthburga', 'The Fyfer Bell', 'The Jesus Bell', and 'The Morrow Mass Bell'. In 2012, more bells were added. Now, the Minster has a total of 13 bells!
The Organ: A Musical Masterpiece
The Minster's organ was first built in 1664 by Robert Hayward. Some parts of the organ from that time are still working today! The organ used to be on a screen that separated the nave from the choir.
In 1856, the organ was moved to the south choir aisle. It was rebuilt and made bigger in 1866 and again in 1899. A new case for the Choir Organ was added then. In 1965, the organ was rebuilt and redesigned again. It is currently being rebuilt by Mander Organ Builders. This project will make the organ even better, with new parts and a new sound system.
The Famous Astronomical Clock
Wimborne Minster has a special Wimborne Minster Astronomical Clock. It is one of several famous old clocks in the west of England. You can also find similar clocks in Salisbury, Wells, Exeter, and Ottery St Mary.
The clock's outer case was built in the Elizabethan era. But the clock face and dial are much older. Records show repairs were done on the clock as early as 1409. The clock face shows the Earth in the center, with the sun and stars moving around it. This was how people thought the universe worked before Copernicus showed us the sun was the center.
A local resident named Bruce Jensen takes care of the clock today.
Important Tombs and Burials
The most important tomb in the church belongs to King Ethelred. He was the brother of Alfred the Great. King Ethelred was hurt in a battle near Cranborne. We don't know the exact spot of his tomb, but it is thought to be near the altar. A metal memorial from the 14th century says the king is buried in the wall. This is the only metal memorial marking an English king's burial site.
Two other important tombs are also in the Minster. They belong to John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, and his duchess. They were the grandparents of King Henry VII. Their tombs are made of beautiful alabaster and Purbeck Marble.
Other people buried here include:
- Cuthburh
- Gertrude Courtenay, Marchioness of Exeter
- Montague Druitt
Images for kids
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The south window of the minster
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The baptistry door of the minster
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The tower from the south west
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The minster close 1
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The minster close 2
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The crypt of the minster 1
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The crypt of the minster 2
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The altar and the brass to King Ethelred I
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The window of St. Georges Chapel
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Sundial outside the church
