We hope that you will enjoy the peace and beauty of this sacred place.
God has been worshipped here for over 1100 years, and for the last 900 years in this great Norman Church.
The original Abbey dates from about 907AD, being re-founded in 967 as a Benedictine Abbey of nuns. It survived the monastic dissolution thanks to the faith and foresight of four ‘Guardians’ of the Abbey who petitioned Henry VIII and bought the church for £100. It remains today as the spiritual focus for the life of the town and community.
The Abbey is a place of prayer and pilgrimage and contains many historical and architectural riches from across its history.
We hope that you will enjoy your visit, and that you will receive and feel something of its peace, tranquillity and sanctuary.
This is not just a building, but living stones which speak of the majesty of God and the love of his Son, Jesus Christ, for all humanity. We hope it reminds you that we are part of a bigger picture of God’s plans and purposes for us all.
Make your way to the back of the Abbey, to the steps of the font. This is the starting point for your tour.
