| Shrewsbury Abbey | |
Shrewsbury Abbey
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| Denomination | Church of England |
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| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.shrewsburyabbey.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | Holy Cross |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shrewsbury |
| Diocese | Lichfield |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd Paul Firmin |
| Curate(s) | Revd Jane Willis |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | Nigel Pursey |
The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1083 by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England.
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The Abbey is located to the east of the town centre, near to the English Bridge, surrounded by a triangular area which is today referred to as Abbey Foregate. A large amount of the monastery was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but a number of buildings, including the church were left intact. Thomas Telford built his A5 road through the remaining part of the Abbey and now only part of the original abbey church is still in existence, which is still used today as a place of worship. The old refectory pulpit is still visible across the road from the church and a single wall of an abbey building, now an integral part of another building, remains.
The history of Shrewsbury Abbey played a prominent role in the "Cadfael" mysteries by Ellis Peters.
The road that passes the abbey is referred to as "Abbey Foregate", the area around which forms a suburb of the town of the same name. The suburb's development is largely residential, with some commercial and limited industrial development, much of the industry having left during a period of decline in the 20th century.
| Abbots of Shrewsbury |
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The nave retains the original Norman, 11th century, massive round pillars on two levels. The west end of the building consists of a tower containing 8 bells and a clock at high level and is 14th century. The Victorian east end of the church was redesigned by John Pearson to contain a chancel and sanctuary. The north vestry is the home of the Abbey organ.
The present organ was built by William Hill and Sons of London in 1911. It has been rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard. [1]