Romsey - Abbey Church of St Mary & St Ethelfleda
URPoint Details
Wheelchair access to most of the site. The nearest facilities are next to the bus station, about 200 yards from the Abbey.
The Abbey Church of St Mary and St Ethelfleda can trace its origins back to 907 AD, the year in which King Edward the Elder, son of the Saxon King Alfred the Great, first settled some nuns here under the charge of his daughter Elfleda.
King Edgar refounded the nunnery circa 960 under the rule of St. Benedict. Ethelfleda, whose reputed acts of sanctity included chanting Psalms whilst standing naked in the River Test at night, was the second Abbess.
The main body of the church was built by Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester in the 12th century and is now the parish church. Except for the west front the abbey is almost all 12th century.
The nave is 250ft long and rises to 70ft.
There are some wonderful treasures to be seen including the altar in the south aisle is a small Anglo-Saxon rood, showing Christ with angels and soldiers.
In the west wall of the south transept is a Crucifixion of the hand of God reaching down. It was found facing into the wall which is probably why it has survived.
There are many fine monuments and one in particular is of
- Type:
- Place of Worship