Уаймондхэмское аббатство: История и архитектура

Wymondham Abbey (pronounced Windum) is the Anglican parish church for the town of Wymondham in Norfolk, England.

The monastery was founded in 1107 by William d'Aubigny, Butler (Pincerna) to King Henry I. William was a prominent Norfolk landowner, with estates in Wymondham and nearby New Buckenham. The d'Aubigny (sometimes Latinised to d'Albini) family originated from St. Martin d'Aubigny in Normandy. William d'Aubigny's monastery was a dependency of the Benedictine monastery at St Albans, where his uncle Richard was Abbot. Wymondham Priory was relatively small, initially for some twelve Benedictine monks, but grew in influence and wealth over the coming centuries. William d'Aubigny, the founder, and Maud his wife, who was the daughter of Roger Bigod, and sister of Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk, richly endowed the priory with lands, churches, tithes, and rents. disclosed indications of a Late Saxon or early Norman church beneath the nave of the current church. In 1249, Pope Innocent IV ruled that the monks should have the chancel, central tower, transepts, south aisle and SW tower, while the nave N aisle and NW tower became the parish church served by an independent vicar instituted by the bishop. in the town dedicated to Becket with two monks from the priory as chaplains. Having served as a gild chapel, then a grammar school and later the town library, in 2022 Becket's Chapel l was purchased by Historic Norfolk and, following a major restoration, is now run as an arts centre. In the time of Stephen, King of England, the prior obtained the grant of a three days' fair at Wymondham on the eve, day and morrow of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, and also a confirmation of the weekly market. Disputes between the Wymondham and St. Albans monks were quite common, and in 1449, following a successful petition to the king, Pope Nicholas V granted Wymondham the right to become an Abbey in its own right. The last abbot, Loye Ferrers, was appointed vicar when this post fell vacant. In 2016, with financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and local donors, new extensions were built at the east end. These provide display areas, comfortable social and refreshment facilities and vestries. There is much interest in the history of the building and parish, with a Preservation Trust and Hon. Archivist. The Parish Archives, some dating back to the 13th century, are housed in the parvise chamber above the porch. The church also has a 1613 edition of the King James Bible. Selections of documents, artefacts and silver are displayed at the back of the church.

Early records suggest that the parish had an organ in the late 1400s and the church still has a guarantee for a new 'payre of orgons in ye quire' built by William Beton (or Bylton) of King's Lynn in 1523. Beton (d. 1553) later became royal court organ maker/tuner, building organs at Hampton Court, the Chapels Royal and Old St Paul's Cathedral Today's handsome main organ was built in London by James Davis and installed here in 1793. It is housed in a fine Chippendale 'Gothick' style case on the gallery at the west end of the nave. The three manual organ (with later addition of pedals) has been enlarged and rebuilt several times but retains most of its original 18th century pipework. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. A smaller chamber organ, also by James Davis and built in 1810, is located in the north aisle. 'The Organ' by David Baker (a former organist at the Abbey) is published by Shire Publications and contains a full description of the instrument with many illustrations of its components. Wymondham Abbey has a tradition of excellence in choral music and welcomes singers of all ages. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.