Lancaster Priory
Lancaster Priory | |
---|---|
Priory Church of St Mary | |
Liberal Anglo-Catholic | |
Website | Lancaster Priory |
History | |
Status | Parish church |
Dedication | St Mary |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Designated | 22 December 1953 |
Reference no. | 1195068 |
Architect(s) | Henry Sephton Paley and Austin Austin and Paley |
Architectural type | Church |
Specifications | |
Capacity | 600 |
Length | 145 feet (44 m) |
Number of spires | 1 |
Spire height | 96 feet (29 m) |
Materials | Sandstone Slate and lead roofs |
Administration | |
Province | York |
Diocese | Blackburn |
Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
Deanery | Lancaster and Morecambe |
Parish | Lancaster St Mary with St John and St Anne |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders |
Assistant priest(s) | Revd Dr Louis Johnson |
Laity | |
Reader(s) | Prof Richard G. Carter, Lois C Kirtley |
Director of music | Dr Rebekah Okpoti |
Organist(s) | Ian Pattinson |
Churchwarden(s) | Dave Russell, |
Lancaster Priory, formally the Priory Church of St Mary, is the Church of England parish church of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is located near Lancaster Castle and since 1953 has been designated a Grade I listed building.[1] It is in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the Diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with that of St John and St Anne.[2]
History
Pre-construction
Construction to 17th century
In 1094
18th to 20th centuries
In 1743 it was decided to raise the steeple 10 yards higher so that the bells could be heard better, and the bells were re-cast.[8] In 1753, the tower was determined to be in danger of collapse and the bells were removed. Henry Sephton was commissioned to demolish and rebuild the tower.[3] In 1759 a new tower was erected, which still stands.[9]
An organ was installed between 1809 and 1811 by
Architecture
Exterior
The church is built in sandstone with roofs of slate and lead.[1] Its plan consists of a west tower, a four-bay nave and a four-bay chancel with a clerestory under a continuous roof, north and south aisles and a south porch. At the east end of the north aisle is St Nicholas' chapel and at the east end of the south aisle is St Thomas' chapel. To the north of the north aisle, occupying the west four bays, is the King's Own Regiment Memorial chapel and to the east of this is the refectory and kitchen.[1] The parapets of the aisles and nave are embattled. The south porch has two storeys with a staircase turret to the east, and crocketed pinnacles. The east window has five lights and Perpendicular tracery.[1] The tower is in four stages surmounted by corner pinnacles and an embattled parapet. In the first stage is a south doorway and above this in the second stage is a four-light window. The third stage has a round window above which is a clock face. The bell openings in the fourth stage have four lights.
Interior
The carved choirstalls are of oak and, dating from 1340, are the third oldest in England.
Cynibald's cross
In 1807 a runic cross was found while digging in the churchyard. The cross is 3 feet in length, and 1 foot 9 inches across. The Anglo-Saxon Runic inscription translates to "Pray ye for Cynibald Cuthburuc".[18][19] Following a meeting of the British Archaeological Association in Lancaster, the cross was moved to the British Museum in 1868.[20] A replica of the cross is now on display near the south west door of the priory.
External features
In the churchyard is a sandstone sundial dating from the late 18th century which was restored in 1894 and which is listed at Grade II.[21] Also in the churchyard and listed at Grade II are the Rawlinson memorial dating from the late 18th century,[22] and a tomb chest with a damaged marble effigy dating from the mid 19th century.[23] The ground under and around the church is also a scheduled monument.[6]
Present day
The church holds the usual services of an Anglican church,
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- Grade I listed churches in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Lancaster, Lancashire
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
- Scheduled monuments in Lancashire
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e Historic England, "Priory and parish church of St Mary, Lancaster (1195068)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Archbishops' Council, Lancaster St Mary (The Priory), Church of England, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g Time Line, Lancaster Priory, archived from the original on 13 August 2007, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ a b c Fleury, p.4
- ^ ISBN 978-0-300-12667-9
- ^ a b Historic England. "Part of a Roman fort and its associated vicus and remains of a pre-Conquest monastery and a Benedictine priory on Castle Hill (1020668)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Fleury p.572
- ^ Fleury, p.36
- ^ Fleury, p.5
- ^ Fleury p.523, but see the Addenda for the correct cost.
- ISBN 978-1-84802-049-8
- ^ Fleury, p.37
- ^ The Organ, Lancaster Priory, archived from the original on 13 August 2007, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ "The Organ | Lancaster Priory". Lancaster Priory. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ The Ancient Monastic Stalls, Lancaster Priory, archived from the original on 13 August 2007, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ The Pulpit, Lancaster Priory, archived from the original on 7 June 2007, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ The Font, Lancaster Priory, archived from the original on 13 August 2007, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ The Archaeological journal, Volume 3, British Archaeological Association, Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, p.72-73.
- ^ Fleury, p.32
- ^ Fleury, p.581
- ^ Historic England, "Sundial approximately 15 metres south of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster (1195070)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Rawlinson Memorial approximately 13 metres north of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster (1212472)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Monument approximately 19 metres west of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster (1195069)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Worship, The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, archived from the original on 15 May 2012, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ The Priory in the Community, The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, archived from the original on 24 April 2012, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Music Events at the Priory, The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, archived from the original on 15 May 2012, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ Home, The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, retrieved 21 May 2012
- ^ List of Member Churches, Greater Churches Network, archived from the original on 29 October 2013, retrieved 21 May 2012
Sources
- Cross Fleury (1891). Time-Honoured Lancaster.
External links
Media related to Lancaster Priory at Wikimedia Commons