Pershore Worcestershire
Pershore Abbey, Worcestershire dedicated to the Holy Cross, was part of an Anglo-Saxon abbey complex and is now the parish church www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/1F0Pz6
It is an amazing survivor, a triumphant remnant of a much larger building which was an important Benedictine monastery in medieval times.
Evidence of its dramatic over thousand year history can be seen throughout the building which has survived fires in 1002, 1223 and 1288, storms and earthquake
Rebuilding, remodelling and repair have produced a fascinating mixture of Norman, Early English, Decorated , Gothic and Victorian architecture we see today. The exterior pink stonework is caused by the fire damage.
The earliest reference of a religious foundation here is in 681 when the King of Mercia gave land to fund a Christian community. It was attacked by the Vikings in the 900s and in 972 the Abbey introduced the Benedictine Rule, However in 976 a local earl seized two-thirds of the Abbey’s land and in 1065 Edward the Confessor gave this land to fund his new abbey at Westminster. The parish was split in two, and the tenants of Westminster Abbey worshipped at St Andrew’s church nearby.
The saxon church was destroyed by fire (1001 & earthquake (106) and the present building probably dates from c1090 .
The c1100 south transept contains the oldest work
In 1288 there was another fire which caused much damage, and the chancel was rebuilt shortly afterwards It is of four bays with piers surviving from the early 13c and above the clerestory windows with vaulted ceiling and fine roof bosses are from the rebuilding .
After the dissolution of the monastery in 1539 , Henry VIII’s commissioners visited and ordered its demolition . The people of Pershore however raised £400 to buy the quire , the c1330 four stage tower and the north and south transepts. The rest including the nave and monastic buildings were demolished causing future instability .
The north transept collapsed in the 17c and the crossing tower was shored up on that side.
The Victorians had a major restoration in 1862 under George Gilbert Scott who opened up the c1330 lantern tower and installed a unique ringing platform suspended high in the tower. www.holmerbells.co.uk/Pershore 2018photos.html The eastern apse was also built.
The huge buttresses by the main door were added in 1913 to stop the four stage tower collapsing
A north west vestry was added in 1936 on the site of the Norman north transept
There are several effigies and monuments including a 13c cross-legged Knight of the Harley family www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/SnQ27D , Abbot Edmund Hert 1479 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/e1L9gs ; and 2 monuments to the 17c Haselwood family www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Y2rf95 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/M1NKT0
The font is Norman showing Christ and the apostles under intersecting arches. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5ZQA60
Pershore Worcestershire
Pershore Abbey, Worcestershire dedicated to the Holy Cross, was part of an Anglo-Saxon abbey complex and is now the parish church www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/1F0Pz6
It is an amazing survivor, a triumphant remnant of a much larger building which was an important Benedictine monastery in medieval times.
Evidence of its dramatic over thousand year history can be seen throughout the building which has survived fires in 1002, 1223 and 1288, storms and earthquake
Rebuilding, remodelling and repair have produced a fascinating mixture of Norman, Early English, Decorated , Gothic and Victorian architecture we see today. The exterior pink stonework is caused by the fire damage.
The earliest reference of a religious foundation here is in 681 when the King of Mercia gave land to fund a Christian community. It was attacked by the Vikings in the 900s and in 972 the Abbey introduced the Benedictine Rule, However in 976 a local earl seized two-thirds of the Abbey’s land and in 1065 Edward the Confessor gave this land to fund his new abbey at Westminster. The parish was split in two, and the tenants of Westminster Abbey worshipped at St Andrew’s church nearby.
The saxon church was destroyed by fire (1001 & earthquake (106) and the present building probably dates from c1090 .
The c1100 south transept contains the oldest work
In 1288 there was another fire which caused much damage, and the chancel was rebuilt shortly afterwards It is of four bays with piers surviving from the early 13c and above the clerestory windows with vaulted ceiling and fine roof bosses are from the rebuilding .
After the dissolution of the monastery in 1539 , Henry VIII’s commissioners visited and ordered its demolition . The people of Pershore however raised £400 to buy the quire , the c1330 four stage tower and the north and south transepts. The rest including the nave and monastic buildings were demolished causing future instability .
The north transept collapsed in the 17c and the crossing tower was shored up on that side.
The Victorians had a major restoration in 1862 under George Gilbert Scott who opened up the c1330 lantern tower and installed a unique ringing platform suspended high in the tower. www.holmerbells.co.uk/Pershore 2018photos.html The eastern apse was also built.
The huge buttresses by the main door were added in 1913 to stop the four stage tower collapsing
A north west vestry was added in 1936 on the site of the Norman north transept
There are several effigies and monuments including a 13c cross-legged Knight of the Harley family www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/SnQ27D , Abbot Edmund Hert 1479 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/e1L9gs ; and 2 monuments to the 17c Haselwood family www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Y2rf95 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/M1NKT0
The font is Norman showing Christ and the apostles under intersecting arches. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5ZQA60