Wren's Cathedral facts for kids
Wren's Cathedral is actually called the Church of St Leonard. It's now a special church (a cathedral) for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. Long ago, it was part of a bigger religious building called Wroxall Priory.
Wroxall Priory was started in 1141. It was a place for nuns, dedicated to St. Leonard. A knight named Sir Hugh-Hatton founded it in Wroxall, Warwickshire. He was the oldest son of the Earl of Warwick. Sir Hugh-Hatton fought in the Crusades and was held prisoner for seven years in Jerusalem. He had a vision of St. Leonard, who is known as the patron saint of prisoners. Because he felt St. Leonard helped him, he gave 3,000 acres of land to the church in Wroxall. This land was used to build a monastery for nuns who followed the Order of St. Benedict. It was named the Priory of St. Leonard at Wroxall.
Contents
The Story of Wren's Cathedral
From Priory to Parish Church
In 1535, the Church in England separated from Rome during the Protestant Reformation. King Henry VIII allowed a man named Robert Burgoyne to buy the Wroxall estate. He paid just under £600. Robert Burgoyne then tore down most of the monastery and the main church. He used the stones to build a new house in the Elizabethan style.
However, the Lady Chapel was saved. It became the St. Leonard Parish Church of Wroxall, part of the Church of England. You can still see some old ruins of the larger church and the priory across the driveway today. The estate also started to be called an Abbey, known as Wroxall Abbey. The red brick tower and three bells in the church were added between 1663 and 1664.
Shakespeare's Family Connection
Did you know that the famous writer William Shakespeare had family connections to Wroxall? His grandfather, Richard Shakespeare, worked as a bailiff for the church in 1534. This was mentioned by historian Michael Wood in his TV show In Search of Shakespeare (2003). Also, one of the Prioresses (the leader of the nuns) named Isabella, who was there in 1501, was William Shakespeare's great-aunt. His aunt, Joan Shakespeare, was there in 1524.
Sir Christopher Wren's Home
In 1713, the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren bought the Wroxall estate. He used it as his country home. While Sir Christopher Wren is buried at St Paul's Cathedral, his wife and other family members are buried at Wroxall. You can see his family symbol (coat of arms) on the south side of the cathedral today.
In 1861, the Dugdale family bought the estate. They built the large Mansion House that stands there now, after tearing down the older house. The church also got a new look inside, designed by the same architect, Ryland. He later wrote a book about the history of Wroxall Abbey in 1903.
School Days and Closure
A girls' school, the Wroxall Abbey Girls School, opened in the Mansion House in 1936. The school rented 27 acres of the property, which included the church. Ministers continued to lead services there during this time. Sadly, the school closed in 1995, and the church also closed its doors.
Wren's Cathedral Today
A New Beginning
In 2001, new owners reopened the church. A large church from Solihull, the Renewal Christian Centre, agreed to help with the services. The church was renamed Wren’s Chapel to honor its famous former owner, Sir Christopher Wren. Regular Sunday services began again. Many special events like weddings, child dedications, and funerals were held there by two dedicated ministers.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 2009, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) wanted to start a new church area (diocese) in the United Kingdom. They chose Wroxall Abbey as their main base. The ministers at the Abbey became part of the CEEC. Later that year, a bishop was chosen to lead this new diocese.
At the same time, a group called the Order of St. Leonard (OSL) was created. Its goal was to bring together church members (called Laity) and ministers from all over the world. In just two years, this order grew to include several countries in Europe and Africa. Because of this growth, Wroxall Abbey became the center of a larger church area called an Arch-diocese.
