Lancaster Priory

A Roman fort existed on the site from the 1st century, and some form of church may possibly have been established around the year 200.{{citation |url=http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/timeline.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813062811/http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/timeline.html |archive-date = 13 August 2007 |title=Time Line |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Lancaster Priory}}Fleury, p.4 A Saxon church is thought to have stood on the site from the sixth century. In 1912 excavations revealed a wall beneath the present chancel area which may be from Roman times, and a small Saxon doorway has been exposed in the west wall of the present nave.{{Citation | last =Hartwell| first =Clare| last2 = Pevsner | first2 = Nikolaus | author2-link =Nikolaus Pevsner| series= The Buildings of England| title =Lancashire: North | publisher =Yale University Press | year =2009 | orig-year=1969 | location = New Haven and London| pages = 364–369| isbn = 978-0-300-12667-9}} It also believed that a monastery had been established here before the Norman conquest of England.{{NHLE |num=1020668 |desc=Part of a Roman fort and its associated vicus and remains of a pre-Conquest monastery and a Benedictine priory on Castle Hill |fewer-links=y |access-date=14 January 2021}}

In 1094 Roger de Poitou established a Benedictine priory dedicated to St Mary, as a cell of the Abbey of Saint Martin of Sées in Normandy, France. Around 1360 the nave was widened to about {{convert|49|ft|m|0}}. In 1431 the church was transferred from Sées to Syon Abbey near London after which there was a major reconstruction in the Perpendicular style. In 1539 this Catholic monastic institution was abolished by Henry VIII and the following year the priory became a parish church. A restoration of the church occurred in 1558.Fleury p.572

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.Fleury, p.36 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. In 1759 a new tower was erected, which still stands.Fleury, p.5

An organ was installed between 1809 and 1811 by George Pike England at a cost of £672.Fleury p.523, but see the Addenda for the correct cost. Between 1868 and 1871 the local architects Paley and Austin restored the chancel, and added a new organ chamber and vestry.{{Citation | last = Brandwood| first = Geoff| last2 = Austin| first2 = Tim| last3 = Hughes| first3 = John| last4 = Price| first4 = James| year = 2012| title = The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin| publication-place = Swindon| publisher = English Heritage| pages = 223, 225| isbn = 978-1-84802-049-8}} In 1872 the old organ was replaced by a new one in the north aisle. In 1887 a peal of eight new bells, donated by James Williamson, was rung for the first time and in 1894 a clergy vestry was built adjacent to the choir vestry.Fleury, p.37 A south porch designed by Austin and Paley was added in 1903 and in the same year an outer north aisle with a polygonal apse was built. This aisle is the memorial chapel to the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. In 1922 the organ was rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison of Durham. In 1972 the bells were overhauled and re-hung. The pipe organ was replaced in 1982 by an electronic organ made by J. and J. Makin,{{citation |url= http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/organ.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813062707/http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/organ.html| archive-date = 13 August 2007|title=The Organ |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Lancaster Priory }} and in the same year the choir and clergy vestries were converted into a refectory. In 2012 a pipe organ was installed by David Wells Organ Builder of Liverpool. It restored to use two redundant instruments, now linked into one scheme played from a single detached console. The organ in the west gallery was built by Henry Willis for St John's Church, Blackpool in 1915, and the organ in the north choir aisle was built by Harrison and Harrison in 1908 for Blackburn Girls’ School.{{Cite web|url=http://lancasterpriory.org/music/the-organ/|title=The Organ {{!}} Lancaster Priory|website=Lancaster Priory|language=en|access-date=2017-08-31}}

The church is built in sandstone with roofs of slate and lead. 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. 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.

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.

File:Lancaster Priory Interior.jpg

The carved choirstalls are of oak and, dating from 1340, are the third oldest in England. Pevsner states that they are "about the most luxuriant canopies in the country". The seats have misericords, some of which have carvings. At the back of the stalls are modern embroidery panels.{{citation |url=http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/stalls.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813062840/http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/stalls.html| archive-date = 13 August 2007|title=The Ancient Monastic Stalls |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Lancaster Priory }} The carved pulpit dates from 1619. It was originally a three-decker pulpit with a canopy surmounted by a crown on a Bible. In 1999 the canopy was reinstated, using the original crown.{{citation |url=http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/pulpit.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070607031716/http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/pulpit.html| archive-date = 7 June 2007|title=The Pulpit |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Lancaster Priory }} The stone base of the font was installed in 1848 and its carved wooden cover is dated 1631.{{citation |url=http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/font_1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813062612/http://www.priory.lancaster.ac.uk/font_1.html| archive-date = 13 August 2007|title=The Font |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher= Lancaster Priory}} The three brass chandeliers are dated 1717. The stained glass in the east window was designed by Edward Paley and made by Wailes. The church plate includes four flagons, a chalice and two breadholders dated 1678–79, a small chalice presented in 1728 and a cup dated 1757.

File:British Museum Lancaster Cross.jpg]]

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".The Archaeological journal, Volume 3, British Archaeological Association, Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, p.72-73.Fleury, p.32 Following a meeting of the British Archaeological Association in Lancaster, the cross was moved to the British Museum in 1868.Fleury, p.581 A replica of the cross is now on display near the south west door of the priory.

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.{{NHLE |num= 1195070|desc= Sundial approximately 15 metres south of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster|access-date= 21 May 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}} Also in the churchyard and listed at Grade II are the Rawlinson memorial dating from the late 18th century,{{NHLE |num= 1212472|desc= Rawlinson Memorial approximately 13 metres north of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster|access-date= 21 May 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}} and a tomb chest with a damaged marble effigy dating from the mid 19th century.{{NHLE |num= 1195069|desc= Monument approximately 19 metres west of tower of Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster|access-date= 21 May 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}} The ground under and around the church is also a scheduled monument.

The church holds the usual services of an Anglican church,{{citation |url=http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page2.htm |title=Worship |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher=The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515021650/http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page2.htm |archive-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead }} the civic ceremonies of a city's parish church,{{Citation |url = http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page12.htm |title = The Priory in the Community |access-date = 21 May 2012 |publisher = The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120424162145/http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page12.htm |archive-date = 24 April 2012 |url-status = dead }} and regular concerts,{{Citation | url= http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page45.htm | title= Music Events at the Priory | access-date= 21 May 2012 | publisher= The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120515021838/http://www.lancasterpriory.org/page45.htm | archive-date= 15 May 2012 | url-status= dead }} the church is open for visitors from 10.00-16:00 Monday-Saturday and for services on Sundays.{{citation |url= http://www.lancasterpriory.org/ |title=Home |access-date=21 May 2012 |publisher= The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster}} Lancaster Priory is a member of the Greater Churches Group.{{Citation| url = http://www.greaterchurches.org/about/list-member-churches| title = List of Member Churches| access-date = 21 May 2012| publisher = Greater Churches Network| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210114/http://www.greaterchurches.org/about/list-member-churches| archive-date = 29 October 2013| url-status = dead}}

{{portal|Lancashire}}

• 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

Citations

{{Reflist|30em}}

Sources

• {{cite book|author=Cross Fleury|title=Time-Honoured Lancaster|url=https://archive.org/details/timehonouredlanc00fleu|year=1891}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Major Churches Network}}

{{Benedictine houses of England and Wales}}

{{Lancashire churches}}

{{City of Lancaster buildings}}

Category:Austin and Paley buildings

Category:Churches in Lancaster, Lancashire

Category:Church of England church buildings in Lancashire

Category:Diocese of Blackburn

Category:English Gothic architecture in Lancashire

Lancaster

Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Lancashire

Category:Paley and Austin buildings

Category:Scheduled monuments in Lancashire