Church Of St Mary |
| Hob Uid: 467090 | |
Location :
Kent
Canterbury
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : TR2276569358 |
| Summary : The site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery at Reculver, and two towers from a 12th century church of St Mary. Much of the site has been lost to the sea. Historical records indicate that an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded in around AD 669, when Egbert, King of Kent, granted Reculver to Bassa for the foundation of a minster church. The church was built near the centre of the earlier Roman fort and reused part of its defences, bricks, rubble and rubble masonry. It was also probably around the site of an early wayside preaching cross, the base of which was found in 1927. The cross base, now at Canterbury Cathedral along with other fragments of Saxon masonry from the church, has been dated to the 7th century AD (although some now think it dates to the 9th century). Documentary records suggest that the site had ceased to function as a monastic house in AD 949, after which the church became St Mary's, the parish church of Reculver. Much of the original church survives as ruins up to around 2 metres high, incorporated within the later medieval parish church. It was remodelled in the early 12th century and during the 13th century. It was partly demolished in 1805 when the stone was used to construct the new church (also St Mary's) on higher ground at Hillborough, but the twin towers were left. In 1809, the ruined church was bought, repaired and underpinned by Trinity House, and the towers are still used as a navigation mark for shipping. The standing ruins have been subject to modern restoration and repair. The site is in the care of English Heritage. |
More information : [TR 22756936] St. Mary's Church [NR] (rems. of) (NAT) (1)
See attached pamphlet. (2)
Reculver Church is as described in Authy. 2. It is under the guardianship of the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works.
GP/AO/63/121/7.
Published survey 25" revised; q.v. TR 26 NW 1. (3)
Additional bibliography. (4-20)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (21-26)
Historical records indicate that an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded in around AD 669, when Egbert, King of Kent, granted Reculver to Bassa for the foundation of a minster church. The church was built near the centre of the earlier fort (TR 26 NW 1), probably around the site of an early wayside preaching cross, the base of which was found in 1927. The cross base, now at Canterbury Cathedral along with other fragments of Saxon masonry from the church, has been dated to the early 7th century AD (although some now think it dates to the 9th century). Documentary records suggest that the site had ceased to function as a monastic house in AD 949, after which the church became St Mary's, the secular parish church of Reculver. Much of the original extent of the Anglo-Saxon monastery has been destroyed by coastal erosion. (27-28)
The church survives as standing ruins up to around 2 metres high, incorporated within the later medieval parish church. The church was remodelled in the early 12th century and during the 13th century. The now disused parish church was partly demolished in 1805. In 1809, the ruined church was bought, repaired and underpinned by Trinity House, and the twin towers are still used as a navigation mark for shipping. The standing ruins have been subject to modern restoration and repair. (29)
Full description of the cross-base, discussion of the final form of the cross, and other fragments alleged to form part of it. Two 7th century columns from the church are in Canterbury Cathedral along with the five fragments of cross-shaft. (30)
A brief history and description. (31)
The south doorway in the 1870s St Mary's Church (Listed Building 170745; NGR TR2122460040) at Hillborough, is a 13th-century one reused from the ancient church at Reculver and has a multi-moulded arch and keeled nook-shafts with simple foliage capitals. (32)
Description of church and its history (33) |