Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbey is supposedly the third largest in England. If you are not too familiar with Abbeys, you might like to read this Wiki article.

We parked in the Abbey's parking lot and while I was operating the Pay and Display machine, the attendant called me 'young man'. I reckon he was actually younger than me but no doubt in November when I turn 70, I will finally be recognizable as an old codger.

The photo does not do justice to this enormous tree. It is as stupendous as the Abbey.

The back of the Abbey.

We strolled around to the entrance.

A flying buttress.

More tall trees.

The entrance.

Inside. Somehow my camera was on a flash setting which is quite useless in a place this size.

Stained glass at the front. The flag is the order of the Garter Banner of Hastings Ismay who was Churchill's Chief Military Assistant in WWII. It's worth reading the article which shows what a capable fellow he was.

The nave.

The pillars are very thick.

Close-up of the ceiling.

The pulpit.

This is a real hisser. I suspect anybody standing there reading from the bible would sound extra good.

The chancel.

The floor.

Choir stalls. The Abbey usually has 'high church' services.

One of the three organs.

Cushions for the older singers. The young choristers make do with bare wood.

A chantry chapel which you can read about in the second paragraph of this Wiki.

View back to the front of the Abbey.

Another of the three chantries.

Another view of the hisser.

Heater with chimney. I bet it is really cold inside these churches in winter.

Another organ. The third organ is movable and I did not see it.

You can read about this rather macabre cenotaph below and to see more detail, click on the image.

Shakespeare often referred to real people in his plays and here is one whose tomb lies below the grate below.

A very modern statue for a change. See below for a description.

As usual in these ancient churches, there are stones marking the graves of people of wealth and position.

An unusual tomb with the arch. The description is above the image.

There is not a lot of stained glass in this building, but this was spectacular in the morning sun.

Some detail.

If you read the description above the image you will read that the occupant of this tomb was hung, drawn and quartered. Apparently Hugh got what he well and truly deserved and if you want to know what they did to him, read this.

The baptismal font. The carved top can lifted off by a long chain suspended from the ceiling.

This simple wooden cross is positioned next to the Roll of Honour for WWI.

Since the Abbey was saved by becoming a parish church during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the head of the church is a vicar and I presume he lives in this house by the abbey.

The front of the Abbey.

Somewhere out there in this meadow is where the Battle of Tewkesbury was fought in 1471. You can see a map here.

As we wandered back to our car, here was that magnificent tree again. If you come to this area and like to visit churches, this Abbey is well worth some time.