Christchurch Priory

at , Christchurch, Dorset , BH23 1BU United Kingdom

1. Landmark
2. Anglican Church
3. Religious Organization

Description

Christchurch Priory is an ecclesiastical parish and former priory church in Christchurch in the English county of Dorset (formerly in Hampshire). It is the longest parish church in the country and is larger than 21 English Anglican Cathedrals.Early historyThe story of Christchurch Priory goes back to at least the middle of the 11th century, as Domesday says there was a priory of 24 secular canons here in the reign of Edward the Confessor. The Priory is on the site of an earlier church dating from 800AD. In 1094 a chief minister of William II, Ranulf Flambard, then Dean of Twynham, began the building of a church. Local legend has it that Flambard originally intended the church to be built on top of nearby St. Catherine's Hill but during the night all the building materials were mysteriously transported to the site of the present priory. Although in 1099 Flambard was appointed Bishop of Durham, work continued under his successors, and by about 1150 there was a basic Norman church consisting of a nave, a central tower and a quire extending eastwards from the crossing. It was during this period that another legend originated, that of the miraculous beam, which is thought to have brought about the change in the name of the town from Twynham to the present day Christchurch, but in fact the two names both featured in a grant dated AD954 ('juxta opidum Twinam, id est, Cristescirce').

Specialities

Price category

$

Company Rating

433 FB users likes Christchurch Priory, set it to 1 position in Likes Rating for Bournemouth in Anglican Church category

Summary

Christchurch Priory is Bournemouth based place and this enity listed in Anglican Church category. BH23 1BU. Contact phone number of Christchurch Priory: 01202 485804