Dorchester Abbey, St Peter and St Paul

Location: Dorchester, Oxfordshire

Map

Website: http://www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk/

Opening Information: Daily

History:

Birinus was buried in Dorchester in 650 the See was moved in 660 to Winchester and his relics moved later. In 869 when the bishoprics of Leicester and Lindsey were removed by the Danish invasions Dorchester became the seat of a see strethching from the Thames to the Humber. In 1067 Wulfwig the last Saxon bishop of Dorchester died and Remigius the only Norman Bishop of Dorchester moved the seat to Lincoln during the 1070's. In 1140 Alexander of Lincoln refounded the church as an abbey of Augustian canons. The church has Saxon foundations in the North wall In 1225 the tomb of St Brinius was opened and the church became a popular pilgrimage which led to a large rebuilding in 1293 with the enlargement of the north choir aisle. A marble shrine in a new south aisle was added in 1320 and a little later extended to a south aisle nave in 1340. In 1536 the shrine was destroyed during the reformation and the church bought by Richard Beauforest for use by the people of the parish.

Rectors:

Effigies:

William de Valence the younger (d 16 June 1282 Llandeilo, Camarthen) son of William de Valence 1st earl of Pembroke (b 1225 Abbey of Valence, Lusignan, d 17 May 1296, buried Westminster Abbey, London) married (13 Aug 1247) Joan de Munchensy (d 1307). The effigy was originally thought to be Sir John de Holcombe (d 1270). The effigy is unusal as it is in the animated pose of drawing a sword. Original traces of paintwork can be seen in the folds of the cloak.

Early 14th Century effigy of a Saxon bishop

John de Stonor (b 1285, d 1354) married Matilda/Maud de Lisle. In October 1326 John became keeper of Wallingford. In 1329-1331 and 1335-1341 and again 1342-1354 John was the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. The arms are Azure, two bars dancetty or, a chief argent.

Knight 1400, probably a member of the Seagrave family, possibly Hugh Segrave, died 1387

Brasses:

Matrix for a lost brass

Matrix for a lost brass

Heraldry still remaining

Richard Beauforest

Norman Lead font from 1170 depicting the 11 apostles

Stained Glass Window of The Tree of Jesse, 14th Century Window with fragments of original glass

Stained Glass Great East Window

Heraldic Window depicting the arms of Knights of Edward I after the siege of Caverlock

Coats of Arms in the window

Heraldry in Stained Glass at Dorchester Abbey Church

Edmund Earl of Cornwall		Edward I Edward Longshanks
Edward Plantegenet of caenarvon later Edward II		Eleanor of Castille Queen of Edward I
Geoffrey Lord Geneville Earl of Ulster		Henry Lord de Tyes
Hugh Ferrers		Hugh Lord de Vere Lord of Swainschamp
John Lord Hastings of Bergavenny		John Lord Wake of Liddel
John St John Lord of St John of Basing		Lord William le Latimer
Richard Fitzalan Earl of Arundel		Robert Foliot Lord of Wroxton
Robert Lord Fitzwalter		Robert Lord Tony
Roger Bigod 5th Earl of Norfolk		Sir Henry Seagrave
Sir John Ferrers of Chartley		Sir John le Bigod
Sir John Lord Grey of Rotherfield Greys		Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster

Modern Shrine of St Birinus

©2006 The Medieval Combat Society

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