Places to go > Southwest England > Glastonbury Abbey < Abbeys < Things to do

Abbeys & Monasteries: Devenish Monastic Site, N. Ireland Dungiven Priory, N. Ireland Glastonbury Abbey, England Grey Abbey, N. Ireland Inch Abbey, N. Ireland Llanthony Priory, Wales Nendrum Monastic Site, N. Ireland Strata Florida Abbey, Wales Tintern Abbey, Wales Valle Crucis Abbey, Wales ................................................. _________________________________

Southwest England attractions: Abbey House Gardens Bodmin and Wenford Railway British Empire Museum Chysauster Ancient Village Dunster Castle The Eden Project Glastonbury Abbey Stonehenge ................................................. _________________________________

Glastonbury Abbey The Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, Tel. +44 (0) 1458 832267

Glastonbury Abbey is thought by many to be the oldest aboveground Christian church in the world.

Set in 36 beautiful acres of parkland in the town centre of Glastonbury, the old church is thought to have been built in 63 AD. Following the invasion of the Saxons, (who had already been converted to Christianity) the first stone church was built by King Ine of Wessex. The church was demolished around the time of the Battle of Hastings and a larger, Norman church built in its place. King Henry II puts his chancellor, Ralph Fitzstephen in charge of rebuilding the monastery following a great fire, which destroyed the abbey in 1184.

The Bath and Wells Diocesan Trust purchased the Abbey ruins in 1908 so that the building would not fall into further disrepair. Presently, during the summer months from April to October, the Abbey has employs characters that represent people from the 16th century. You can learn about the daily lives of the monks, what they ate and where they slept. In addition, you can also learn about how the monks trained to do their duties.

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Abbeys, Monsteries and remains in our Monastery section:

Devenish Monastic site
Dungiven Priory
Glastonbury Abbey
Grey Abbey
Inch Abbey
Llanthony Priory
Nendrum Monastic site
Strata Florida Abbey
Tintern Abbey
Vale Crucis Abbey

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