Winchcombe Abbey facts for kids
 Saxon stone cross dating to 1020-1050 in St Catherine's Church, Wormington. It is thought to have originated from Winchcombe Abbey.
|
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Monastery of St. Mary at Winchcombe |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 798 |
| Disestablished | 1539. |
| Official name | Winchcombe Abbey |
| Designated | 18 October 1962 |
| Reference no. | 1019146 |
| Reestablished | 970 |
| Dedicated to | St. Mary |
| Consecrated | 811 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | King Coenwulf of Mercia |
| Abbot |
|
| Site | |
| Location | Winchcombe, Gloucestershire |
| Coordinates | 51°57′12″N 1°58′1″W / 51.95333°N 1.96694°W |
| Visible remains | The main abbey is now gone, however the attached Parish Church of St. Peter is in active use |
| Public access | Inaccessible |
Winchcombe Abbey was a very old Benedictine monastery in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. It's not there anymore! Long ago, Winchcombe was the capital of Mercia, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in England.
Around 798, King Coenwulf of Mercia started the abbey. It was built for about 300 Benedictine monks. Winchcombe Abbey became the burial place for King Coenwulf and his son, Cynehelm. Cynehelm was later known as Saint Kenelm.
The abbey was rebuilt in 970 after some difficult times. These troubles were caused by Viking invasions. The first leader, or abbot, of the new abbey was Germanus of Winchester.
Contents
The Abbey's Importance and Wealth
The abbey was located near the parish church of St Kenelm. Many pilgrims visited St Kenelm's tomb. This happened a lot in the early Middle Ages. Because of these visitors, the abbey became very rich.
At its most powerful, Winchcombe Abbey owned a huge amount of land. It had 25,300 acres (102 square kilometers). This land was spread across 13 different areas. For example, Snowshill Manor was owned by the abbey for over 700 years.
A Center for Learning
In the early 1500s, Winchcombe Abbey was famous for learning. This was under Abbot Richard Kidderminster (1488–1527). He was also a well-known speaker. He even worked as an ambassador for King Henry VII.
The stonemasons at Winchcombe were very skilled. A master mason from Winchcombe helped build the Divinity School at Oxford University. This shows how good their work was.
The Abbey's End
Winchcombe Abbey was closed down in 1539. This was part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The abbey buildings were then torn down.
You can still find some of its old stones in Winchcombe today. For example, a stone that was once over the abbey gate is now over the gate of the old George Inn. Other pieces of the abbey can be seen in places like the Corner Cupboard Inn.
It is thought that Edmund Brydges used the abbey's stones. He used them to rebuild Sudeley Castle in the 1570s. Some abbey stones found in the castle gardens are now shown in its dungeons.
In the 1800s, a stone cross was put up. It marks where the center of the abbey tower once stood. Not much of Winchcombe Abbey remains today. More is left of its nearby rival, Hailes Abbey.
Key Dates for Winchcombe Abbey
- 798: King Coenwulf of Mercia orders the building of the abbey.
- 811: Winchcombe Abbey is officially opened. Wulfred, the Archbishop of Canterbury, leads the ceremony.
- 1042–1066: During Edward the Confessor's time, Winchcombe Abbey becomes one of the strongest Benedictine monasteries in England.
- August 29, 1151: A fire destroys much of Winchcombe, including the abbey.
- 1239: The rebuilding of the abbey is finished.
- December 23, 1539: Winchcombe Abbey is given to the Crown. The monks are given money to leave. The abbey buildings are quickly taken apart. Their stones are used for other buildings.
