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St Bees |
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The Priory Church of
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Church Index
Priory Index
Church History Index
Pre-Conquest
Benedictine
Post Reformation
19th Century
20th Century
Conjectural layout
Monastic Services
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The Post-Reformation Church The Priory was dissolved by order of Henry VIII on 16th October 1539. The monks and Prior were pensioned off, and the nave only was retained in use as a parish church. The Monastic chancel had its roof stripped, but some of the cloister buildings and the gatehouse survived until the 1800's. Access was no longer by the west door, but by a porch on the north side. Two views are shown below from this period.
Buck's view of 1739. It shows the remains of the south range of the cloister and the gatehouse on the left. The ruins of the Lady Chapel abut the transept, and the monastic chancel is roofless.
The Priory in 1775. The roofless chancel of the monastic church is seen on the left, and on the far right is the old monastic gatehouse. The West Door was unused at this time andtry to the church was by the porch seen abutting the North aisle. It is known that the church was extensively repaired in 1611 and a stone with this date, thought to have the initials of the churchwardens, is set in the wall of the baptistry. St. Bees has one of the most complete set of parish records, which date from 1539. These are now in the public record office in Whitehaven.
The Stone dated 1611
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