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Architecture of the Priory
The
Priory Church of today is much the same as it was when
King Henry VIII granted it to the inhabitants of Christchurch
to be used as their Parish Church in perpetuity.
The
conventual monastic buildings of that time on the south
side of the church, however, were pulled down shortly
after the Dissolution, except the Porter's Lodge, which
is now Priory Cottage and is thus one of the oldest
inhabited houses in Christchurch.
The
18th century red-brick Priory House was built by Gustavus
Brander close to the church but the rest of the Priory
demesne is now mostly used as gardens and car parks.
In
medieval times there were three churches in the one
building: the People's Church (the Nave) the Monks'
Church (the Quire) and the Lady Chapel. Today the whole
building is the Parish Church which, with a total length
of 311 feet 4 inches (just under 95 metres), is reputedly
the longest Parish Church in England. (click
here for further dimensions)
In
the churchyard to the north of the church, now no longer
used for burials, are many ancient tombstones including
a 17th century tomb chest with an inscription about
10 people who were buried twice.
The
present Vicar is the 26th since the Dissolution in 1539.
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Styles
of Architecture
The
Priory Church has examples of most styles of architecture:
Norman, the three types of Gothic: Early English, Decorated
and Perpendicular; and Tudor Renaissance. There is no
specific Saxon work remaining, but the crypts may have
been of Saxon origin and modified by the Norman builders.
The
Nave is pure Norman up to the Triforium level, and on
the exterior of the North Transept the Norman stair
turret is richly decorated with Norman arcading, fish
scale and diaper work. The Clerestory (above the Triforium
in the Nave) is Early English as are the windows in
the North Nave Aisle and the Montacute Chapels in the
North Transept.
The
Quire Screen, Jesse Reredos and South Nave Aisle windows
are Decorated Gothic.
The
Lady Chapel is early Perpendicular Gothic and the present
Quire, rebuilt in the 15th century, is a classic example
of Perpendicular Gothic at its best and has some early
examples of pendant vaulting. The Salisbury and Draper
Chantries are fine examples of ornate Tudor
Renaissance work.
In
the Montacute Chapel in the North Transept is a 19th
century Renaissance wooden altar table by Augustus Welby
Pugin, the architect whose designs were used in the
rebuilding of the House of Commons after the fire of
1834.
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