St Bees Priory Church, Cumbria
N 54° 29.627 W 003° 35.643
30U E 461522 N 6038624
St Bees Priory Church survived the Dissolution of the monasteries because it is the parish church as well. The church was founded almost 1,000 years ago. Little of the original building still stands.
Waymark Code: WM9PXH
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/16/2010
Views: 3
The full name is the Priory Church of St Mary and St Bega from the links with St Mary's of York and the Irish Princess St Bega, and was founded almost 1,000 years ago. Prior to the Normans invading this land there was a church here, probably a mother church for surrounding lands. Also the legend of St Bega has her landing here in 650 AD. More likely she arrived in 950 AD.
Once the Normans had taken control, a priory was founded by William de Meschines, Lord of Egremont, and dedicated between 1120 and 1135 by Archbishop Thurstan of York. The priory was a Benedictine house for 6 monks and a Prior, and was a subsidiary of the great abbey of St. Mary at York. Whilst the main dedication is to St. Mary, it had a chapel dedicated to St. Bega, a concession to the existing community, who probably worshipped in an earlier church with this dedication.
The west main door and the base of the tower are all that remain from this Norman building. The Norman west door is very impressive. Visit Link Carlisle Cathedral has a similar doorway.