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Description |
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| Christchurch Priory
is considered to be one of the finest churches in England and
at 311 feet long it is the longest.
The legend of the 'miraculous beam'
Christchurch was originally called Twynham. The Normans decided
to replace the Saxon church, which had stood on the site
since 800 AD, with a grander building. Legend has it that
when building the present Priory one of the roof beams was
cut too short. The carpenters not knowing what to do left
for the day but when they came back the next day the beam
had extended overnight to fit exactly. They attributed this
miracle to Jesus, also a carpenter, and the church and town
became known as Christ's Church.
Special Guided Tours of the Priory. Tours
start at 6.30pm, last for about three hours and include parts
of the Priory not always open to visitors (e.g. Tower, Crypt,
Roof Space and Archives). Not suitable for children under 8.See Priory website for
details |
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Open |
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All year
Mon to Sat, 9.30am - 5pm
Sun, 2.15pm - 5.30pm (subject to services) |
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Prices |
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| The above charges
are for a Standard Guide Tour. There are also Guided Evening
Tours and Tower Visits. All the guided tours
must be pre-booked from the Head Verger at the Priory on (01202) 485804. |
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Contact |
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More pictures |
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Chidiock Tomb Chest c1461 - The heads of both figures have been much defaced as legend has it that the scrapings of alabaster, from which both figures are carved, mixed with water was an infallible cure for all forms of eye infections. |
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The seats were designed to provide, in the upright position, support, but not ease, for the monks who worshipped here and who otherwise were obliged to stand for long periods during daily services. The seats were painstakingly carved by medieval craftsmen, with examples from the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. |
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Parking |
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| There is a car park
between the church and the quay, access along Quay Road. |
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Accessibility |
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 Wheelchair
accessible
Wheelchair Access: There is level access
through the North Porch into the Priory. The doors and aisles are
wide enough to facilitate wheelchair access.
Toilets
in a block at the rear of the church that
includes a disabled toilet which uses the
Radar Key system. The key can be obtained
from the Bookstall in the church. |
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