Wren's Cathedral facts for kids
Wren's Cathedral is a special church in Wroxall, Warwickshire, England. Its proper name is the Church of St Leonard. Today, it is a cathedral for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. It used to be the Lady Chapel of Wroxall Priory.
Wroxall Priory was started in 1141. It was a Priory for nuns, dedicated to St. Leonard. Sir Hugh-Hatton, the eldest son of the Earl of Warwick, founded it. He had been a prisoner for seven years in Jerusalem during the Crusades. He had a vision of St. Leonard, who is known as the patron saint of prisoners. Because he felt St. Leonard helped him, Sir Hugh-Hatton gave 3,000 acres of land. This land was used to build a monastery for nuns following the Order of St. Benedict. It was named the Priory of St. Leonard at Wroxall.
Contents
History of the Church
Changes Under Henry VIII
In 1535, the Church in England separated from Rome. This was part of the Protestant Reformation. Henry VIII allowed Robert Burgoyne to buy the Wroxall estate. Robert Burgoyne then tore down the main monastery and church buildings. He used the stones to build a new Elizabethan house.
However, the Lady Chapel was saved. It became the St. Leonard Parish Church of Wroxall for the Church of England. You can still see some old ruins of the larger church and priory today. The estate also became known as Wroxall Abbey. The church's red brick tower and three bells were added around 1663–1664.
Shakespeare's Family Connection
Did you know that Richard Shakespeare, the grandfather of the famous writer William Shakespeare, worked here? He was the bailiff for the church in 1534. This was mentioned by historian Michael Wood in his documentary In Search of Shakespeare. Also, one of the Prioresses, Isabella (in 1501), was William Shakespeare's great-aunt. His aunt was Joan Shakespeare (in 1524).
Sir Christopher Wren's Home
In 1713, the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren bought the estate. He used it as his country home. While Sir Christopher Wren is buried at St Paul's Cathedral, his wife and family are buried at Wroxall. You can see his family crest on the south side of the church.
Later, in 1861, the Dugdale family bought the estate. They built the large Mansion House that stands today. The church was also updated inside by the architect who designed the house, named Ryland.
School Days at Wroxall
In 1936, a girls' school called Wroxall Abbey Girls School opened in the Mansion House. The school leased part of the property, including the church. The church continued to have ministers during this time. Both the school and the church closed in 1995.
Present Use
Reopening and New Ministries
In 2001, new owners reopened the church. A large Free Methodist Church from Solihull, the Renewal Christian Centre, agreed to provide ministers. The church was renamed Wren’s Chapel to honor Sir Christopher Wren. Regular Sunday services began, along with weddings, child dedications, and funerals.
A Cathedral for the CEEC
In 2009, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) decided to set up their UK headquarters at Wroxall Abbey. The ministers at the Abbey joined the CEEC. Later that year, a bishop was chosen to lead the diocese.
At the same time, the Order of St. Leonard (OSL) was created. Its goal is to bring together church members and ministers from around the world. In just two years, the Order has grown to include several countries in Europe and Africa. Because of this growth, Wroxall has now become an Arch-diocese.
