The Church: Praise and Prayer

The nave in the early 14th century. Beyond the lay brothers' altar are the wooden rood screen and the stone pulpitum, dividing the nave from the monks' choir. Drawing by Roger Hutchins © English Heritage Photo Library

The monks performed their devotions in the church, singing God’s praises during eight services each day.

The uninterrupted openness of the church today is deceptive, as it was originally divided up by screen walls. The western end, the nave, was reserved for the lay brothers, members of the community who worked on the abbey’s estates. Their accommodation was in the ruined range to the west of the cloister.

The inscription of one of the piers of the church naming Henry III as the abbey’s royal patron. © English Heritage Photo Library The monks’ stalls and the high altar were screened off from this area. Here, the monks attended services each day, rising from their beds for the first at two o’clock in the morning.

View looking down the nave from the east © English Heritage Photo LibraryThe bases of three of the four great piers of the transept-crossing, in the centre of the church, have symbols and an inscription carved on them. They commemorate the construction of the church by Henry III, the abbey’s royal patron.

View of the presbytery from the west © English Heritage Photo LibraryWhen the abbey became a house, the church was converted by Sir William Paulet into a great hall, used for entertaining guests. The western end became the kitchen, where ovens and hearths were installed. The east end was a private chapel, and the south transept housed Sir William’s private apartments.