| Summary : Tower and nave 11th and 12th centuries, chancel and transepts 13th century. Refenestration in part 15th century. Restored 1863 by Ewan Christian. Flint, rubble, some re-used Roman brick and Caen stone dressings. Plain tiled roofs. Chancel with C19 vestry, transepts, nave and aisles, western tower.It is said to be on the site of the minster and nunnery of St Domneva, founded in 669. That was burnt by the Danes in 1011 and refounded as a Benedictine grange of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. (See TR36SW2). |
More information : [TR 31086425] Church [NAT] (1)
The Church of St Mary, Minster, dates from the early C12th [see plan -AO/LP/62/122]. There is Roman brick in the building. (2,3)
It is supposed that the nunnery of St Mildred founded c670 AD by
Domneva or Ermenburga stood on the site now occupied by the parish
church. In the following century, a larger monastery was built on a
site which tradition associates with that of Minster Court [see TR 36
SW 3). (4,5)
In normal use. (6)
Church of St Mary, Church Street (S side), Minster. Grade I. Parish
church. Tower and nave C11 and C12, chancel and transepts C13.
Refenestration in part C15. Restored 1863 by Ewan Christian. Flint,
rubble, some re-used Roman brick and Caen stone dressings. Plain tiled roofs. Chancel with C19 vestry, transepts, nave and aisles, western tower. Three stage tower with offset pilaster buttresses. String courses, battlements and shingled spire. Square south-eastern stair turret, truncated and capped with spirelet. C19 Romanesque style W doorway. Round headed tower and belfry lights. Aisles with 3 off set buttresses, plinth, string course and battlements. Renewed C15 and C19 Perpendicular style tracery. Moulded hoods to S and N doors. Chancel and transepts all of one design and build, with offset clasping buttresses, moulded string course (raised around transepts), and lancet windows, a group of 3 in chancel E wall, with round headed gable light over. Flying buttresses to chancel and single storey
vestry (to S of chancel) added by Ewan Christian 1860's. Exterior
walls with several monumental plaques, most late C18, attached. (7)
St Mary. A church on a monumental scale, fitting for the site of an
abbey. Domneva was consecrated first Abbess of Minster in Thanet in
669. Her daughter, Mildred, became the most famous local saint after
St Augustine, but when, early in the C11, the abbey had been deserted, her body and the abbey lands were both handed over to St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury (1027-30). Why the church was rebuilt so mightily is not adequately explained. Flint, rubble stone and Caen stone ashlar are the materials. The work of enlargement began at the E end of the S arcade 1150, continued steadily westwards, and then began again with the east parts, so that all was completed by c1230. [Full architectural description follows]. (8)
Minster Church and St Mildred. (9,10)
Short account of St Mary's Church, Thanet. (11)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (12,13)
TR 311643 The mother church of Thanet. Part of the present building
dates back to pre-Norman times. (14)
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