This chapel, dedicated to St Ethelflaeda, and the adjacent chapel of St Mary, once extended about 24 feet to the east. The chapels took their present form after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
To the right of the Altar is a painted panel of a kneeling priest which dates from the late 15th century. It is not certain who the painting represents.
To the left is an ancient tomb of an abbess. You might be able to spot the abbess’s crozier (her symbol of office) down the side of the tombstone.
Behind you on a column is a contemporary statue depicting St Benedict, crafted from chicken wire by Belinda Rush-Jansen. St Benedict was the founder of the Benedictine monastic order in whose name the nunnery was founded. He is seen as a pastor with an abbot’s pastoral staff and as a teacher with a copy of The Rule of St Benedict. Installed in 2008, it was a gift from Canon Neil Crawford-Jones who was vicar at the Abbey for 13 years.
Next to this is the list of vicars of Romsey, which starts in 1334 with the first vicar, Nicholas de Botelstan. It also shows John Warren as an ‘intruder’; John was the non-conformist vicar during the Commonwealth period, but was ejected from his post in 1662 for failing to follow the Book of Common Prayer.
Continue into St Mary’s Chapel.
