Cathedrals · South West England
Sherborne Abbey
In or near Oborne.
Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It was formerly a Saxon Catholic cathedral (705–1075) an
Rob Farrow — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Nearest railway station
- Sherborne · 0.4 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Sherborne Abbey, the nearest railway station is Sherborne, located 0.4 km away. Entry is free, but wheelchair access is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is DT9 3BP.
About
Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It was formerly a Saxon Catholic cathedral (705–1075) and a Benedictine abbey church (998–1539), before becoming a Church of England parish church in 1539 during the dissolution of the monasteries. In England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) by Simon Jenkins, it is one of only 18 churches given a five-star rating.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Sherborne Abbey is a historic parish church founded in AD 705, known for its beautiful architecture and rich monastic heritage. Visitors can explore the Abbey and participate in guided tours, which are available from April to October, as well as attend various services and events throughout the year.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It was formerly a Saxon Catholic cathedral (705–1075) and a Benedictine abbey church (998–1539), before becoming a Church of England parish church in 1539 during the dissolution of the monasteries. In England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) by Simon Jenkins, it is one of only 18 churches given a five-star rating.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
This site has been occupied since Roman times. During the restoration of 1849–58, excavations were carried out in which part of a Roman mosaic pavement was found deep beneath the floor, as well as evidence that the Saxon cathedral of AD 705 had been built on the site of a previous church. It is possible that there was a Celtic Christian church called Lanprobi here as early as AD 658, when it was part of the Celtic kingdom of Dumnonia, and Kenwalc or Cenwalh, King of the West Saxons, is believed to be one of its founders. However, it is probable that this church was actually on the site of modern-day Castleton Church.
Architecture
The abbey is a Grade I listed building. It has several distinct architectural styles throughout. Like much of Sherborne's historic centre, it is built of honey-brown hamstone.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.9467, -2.5167
- District
- Dorset
- Parish
- Sherborne
- Postcode
- DT9 3BP
- Parliamentary constituency
- West Dorset
- Phone
- +44 1935 812252
- Established
- 705
- Nearest railway station
- Sherborne — 0.4 km
- Opening
- Monday-Saturday 8am–5pm; Sunday 11am–5pm
- Official site
- www.sherborneabbey.com
Sources
- wikipedia: Sherborne Abbey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Digby Memorial
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Sherborne
Museums · 0.0 km
Sherborne Abbey First World War Memorial and Second World War Memorial Wall
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Sherborne Museum
Museums · 0.1 km
Oliver Holt Gallery
Galleries · 0.1 km
Powell Theatre
Theatres · 0.1 km
The Digby Tap Inn
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Abbeylands
Historic houses · 0.2 km
Old Bank House
Historic houses · 0.2 km
Sherborne Preparatory School
Natural landmarks · 0.3 km
The White Hart Public House
Historic pubs · 0.4 km
The Eastbury
Hotels · 0.4 km
Nearby
📷 3Memorials & monuments · South West England
Digby Memorial
Digby Memorial — a memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 5Museums · South West England
Sherborne
Sherborne — a museum in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Memorials & monuments · South West England
Sherborne Abbey First World War Memorial and Second World War Memorial Wall
Sherborne Abbey First World War Memorial and Second World War Memorial Wall — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Museums · South West England
Sherborne Museum
Sherborne Museum — a museum in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
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Oliver Holt Gallery
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Powell Theatre
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Where to eat & stay near Sherborne Abbey
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Sherborne Abbey?
- Sherborne Abbey is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode DT9 3BP), in the parish of Sherborne.
- What is Sherborne Abbey?
- Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It was formerly a Saxon Catholic cathedral (705–1075) an
- How do I get to Sherborne Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Sherborne, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode DT9 3BP.
- When was Sherborne Abbey built?
- Built or established in 705.
- Is Sherborne Abbey free to visit?
- Yes, Sherborne Abbey is free to enter.
- How do I get to Sherborne Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Sherborne, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DT9 3BP.