| c.634 |
Birinus
landed in Wessex (Anglo-Saxon Chronicles). |
| 7th
/8th cent. |
First
Saxon church built at Twynham. |
| 1086 |
A
Priory of 24 secular canons recorded in Domesday
Book. |
| 1094 |
Building
of church commenced by Ranulf (Ralph) Flambard. |
| c.1100-1135 |
Roof
partly completed. Transepts built. |
| c.
1145 |
Nave
roofed at Triforium height. |
| 1150 |
Prior
Reginald appointed as first Prior and a community
of Augustinian Canons Regular were established. |
| c.
1200 |
Aisles
vaulted. |
| 1210 |
Oldest
Misericord seat carved. |
| 1214 |
Nave
Altar consecrated. |
| 1290 |
Clerestory
completed and roof raised. North Porch started. |
| 1320 |
Quire
screen carved. |
| 1360 |
Jesse
screen (reredos) carved. |
| 1370 |
Two
King's Head bells cast. |
| 1390 |
Lady
Chapel commenced. |
| c.
1420 |
Central
tower collapsed or taken down |
| 1460 |
Tomb
of Sir John and Lady Chidiock installed in North
Transept |
| 1480 |
West
Tower added. |
| 1486 |
Berkeley
Chantry built. |
| 1502
- 1520 |
Great
Quire rebuilt by Prior William Eyre. |
| 1520 |
Prior
John Draper elected. |
| 1539 |
Priory
surrendered to King Henry VIII and monastic buildings
destroyed (The Dissolution). |
| 1549
(Oct 23) |
Church
granted to town's inhabitants and churchwardens
as their parish church in perpetuity. |
| 1552 |
Prior
Draper died. |
| 1662 |
Grammar
School established in St. Michael's Loft |
| 1788 |
An
organ placed on top of Quire Screen. (Gustavus Brander
Bequest). |
| 1828 |
Grammar
School ceased but Vicar's Academy continued in
St.
Michael's Loft (until 1869).
Church
school established in the town. |
| 1848 |
Organ
moved from screen to South Transept gallery |
| 1854 |
Shelley
Monument installed. |
| 1865 |
Rebuild
of organ by Father Willis. |
| 1867 |
Church
School moved to Wick Lane. |
| 1869 |
School
in Priory closed. |
| 1910-1912 |
Galleries
removed from North and South Transepts. |
| 1934 |
Electric
lighting installed. |
| 1973 |
Coal-burning
stoves replaced with new gas-heating system.
New
electronic organ installed. |
| 1981 |
Cloister
Way built.
St Michael's Loft opened as a museum. |
| 1996
- 1998 |
Seven
stained glass windows installed in Cloister Way
depicting the history of the Priory. |
| 1999 |
New
pipe organ installed (Nicholsons). Made possible
by an appeal
and an Arts Council grant from the Capital Lottery
Fund.
Installation
of Ninth Centenary Window in North Transept (Jane
Gray). |
