Tewkesbury Abbey

We welcome you to Tewksbury Abbey, whether you come to marvel at our history, enjoy our architecture or to pray we hope that your visit allows you to enjoy the peace and beauty of our church.

Although we are of cathedral proportions we are actually one of the largest Parish Churches in the country. There has been a church on this site for over 1,200 years, and the present building, built of Caen stone from Normandy, has stood for the last 900 years.

Consecrated in 1121 as the church of the Benedictine Abbey of Tewkesbury, we were one of the last of the monasteries to be dissolved by King Henry VIII. Thanks to the towns people at the time, who bought it from the King for the sum of £453 (the cost of the lead and the bells), the Abbey Church is still here today.

We have a rich architectural and artistic heritage, including medieval stained glass, stunning roof bosses, exquisite tombs and chantry chapels and our 17^th century Milton organ (played by the poet John Milton), still in daily use.

We are supported only by the people who worship here and by our many visitors, whose generosity allows us to keep this beautiful building, and the work we do here, alive and growing.