AN ABBEY WITH A GREAT HISTORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1923, Page 1

AN ABBEY WITH A GREAT HISTORY.

LONDON, Oct. 23. To-day there is being commemorated at Tewkesbury the 800th anniversary of the consecration of its famous abbey church, the most noteworthy Norman minster in England; built, too, by Robert FitzHamon, the nephew of the Conqueror. The Bishops ol Worcester, Llaiidaff, Hereford, and Dublin took part in that consecration, and those who are now enthroned in their ancient sees will assist in this commemoration. The Archbishop of Canterbury comes to address the many distinguished persons who are keeping this great feast of remembrance. Tewkesbury Abbey is not only 300 vears old, hut also it stands on the site of the priory church in which licrt brie, King ol the West Saxons, was buried more than 1,1.00 years ago. That church, in its turn, rose from the ruins of the wooden chapel which tradition insists that Theoc, a British priest, built on the same spot when became to convert the heathen Saxon. So there lias been for 1,300 years this House of God in Theoc’s town of Tewkesbury.

The abbey deserves its fame. Its chantries and chapels are alone excelled by Westminster Abbey; its ancient glass is dimmed only by York Minster; none can surpass its vast arches and colossal pillars, and not even Durham can rival its glorious tower.

The church rings with the echo of history, for the wonderful tombs within its walks screen the dust of the Glotieostors, de Glares, Despensers,

Beauchamps, Tlautagenets, Nevilles, and many other famous men, who had fixed their seals to Magna Charta. borne the King’s standard in France, stood at the right hand of Majesty, been Regents of England, and made and unmade Kings.

The lordship of Tewkesbury was held hv a long line of nobles who married in almost every generation into the reigning family. Tt was also held at times by the Kings themselves. F ram no great event in English history Between 900 and 15-10 was., Tewkesbury excluded. Within the abbey church we can read to-dav in stone the vtory el. high endeavour: oi conflict, viocvv, blood, and the scaffold. When the Normans came, l woman took Tewkesbury from the Saxon earls. Matilda of Flanders had fallen in love with Brilric of Tewkesbury, and caused those gentle tidings to he conveyed to him. But Britric declined the honour. and when she subsequently married William the Norman and became Queen of England, she, as a woman scorned, at once obtained from her husband the lordship of Tewheslnirv, and had Britric cast into prison, where, as was the custom in those days, he forthwith died. Women have played their part in the history of this old place. On repeated occasions have noble heiresses taken the wide and teeming lands of “the Honour” to other families, and the last of these. Isabel, daughter of Wavwick “the King-Maker,” conveyed them to her luckless husband, the Duke of Glarenee—him of the Malmsey butt. He and she lie in the ahhev to-Jar.