File:The greater abbeys of England (1908) (14793133683).jpg

Identifier: greaterabbeysofe00gasq (find matches)
Title: The greater abbeys of England
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Gasquet, Francis Aidan, Cardinal, 1846-1929
Subjects: Abbeys -- England England -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : Chatto & Windus
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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stributary streams, from Gloucester to Shrewsbury, stoodTewkesbury, Pershore, Evesham, Malvern, and Wor-cester—seven as fine and as glorious monasteries as itis possible to find in England. Gloucester, the first inorder, is in many ways the finest of this series; of someof them, alas! little now remains to show what theywere in the days of their glory. The external effect ofGloucester is somewhat marred by the long depressedroof of the nave, which is set at a level lower thanthat of the choir and presbytery, but the superb centraltower, which is crowned with open-work parapets andpinnacles, prevents the eye from dwelling on this defect. Gloucester, says a modern writer, contains some ofthe choicest triumphs of Gothic art, and numerousinstances of the most ingenious contrivances of me-chanical ability, taste and skill. The abbey of St Peters, Gloucester, was founded inSaxon times about the year 679; and in process of timeit counted no fewer than five cells under its jurisdiction, 112
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Gloucester Ewias, Ewenny, Hereford, Kilpeck and Bromfield.Wulphere, the first Christian King of Mercia, is saidto have commenced the work, which was carried onby his brother and successor Ethelred, who somewhatlater laid aside his crown to become a monk at Bard-ney. History relates that in order to insure the con-tinuation of the work after he had taken the cowl, heemployed his nephew Osric, who ultimately, by theadvice and help of Archbishop Theodore and of Basil,first bishop of Worcester, constituted his sister Kyne-burgh the first abbess. She was blessed by Bishop Basil,and ruled the convent of St Peters, Gloucester, fortwenty-nine years. To Kyneburgh succeeded Edburga, widow of Wul-phere, the original founder of Gloucester. She resignedher royal state, and in time, becoming second abbess ofSt Peters and ruling it for twenty-five years, wasburied near her predecessor Kyneburgh in 735. Shewas followed in her ofKce by Eva, the wife of Wulfere.son of Penda, who died and was buried at

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