bath commonly known anglican parish church monastery bath somerset england founded 7th century reorganised 10th century rebuilt 12th 16th centuries major restoration work carried sir 1860s largest examples architecture church plan able seat active place worship hundreds congregation members hundreds thousands visitors year religious services secular civic ceremonies concerts lectures choir performs abbey heritage museum abbey grade listed building particularly noted fan contains war memorials local population monuments notable people form wall floor plaques commemorative stained glass church organs bells west includes sculptures angels climbing heaven stone history early history king granted hides near bath establishment convent religious house monastery patronage king successfully famous monastery bath bishop william tells rebuilt monastic church occupied site earlier pagan temple standard king moved describe built little known architecture building site england declined time brother crowned king english abbey began revival accession throne encouraged monks adopt rule saint introduced dissolution bath ravaged power struggle sons following death victor granted city royal physician john tours abbot bath shortly john bought grounds king city bath john paid city given gift king unclear abbey recently lost abbot according book owner large estates near city likely abbey wealth attracted john monastery acquiring bath john acquired mint city transferred seat administration probably attempt increase revenues bath rich abbey wells poor diocese taking abbey john increased episcopal revenues william portrays moving episcopal seat motivated desire lands abbey pattern time moving cathedral seats small villages larger towns john moved episcopal seat took abbey bath cathedral chapter turning diocese served monks instead wells previously served diocese john rebuilt monastic church bath damaged rebellions permission given somerset wells comparatively small settlement walled city bath effected john raised cathedral status roles bishop abbot combined monastery run prior elevation abbey cathedral status felt larger date building required john tours planned new cathedral grand scale dedicated complete died december buried cathedral renowned scholar monk based abbey bath travels monastery half finished cathedral devastated fire work continued new bishop completed building approximately feet long consecrated bishop specific date known successor approval pope officially moved seat monks accept new title claim abandoned successor wells moved bishop seat title following death monks bath unsuccessfully attempted regain authority wells monks roll joint cathedral status awarded pope innocent bath wells roger salisbury appointed bishop bath wells having year previously later bishops preferred wells successfully petitioned years wells regain cathedral status gradually fell disrepair monks bishop bath wells visited bath shocked find famous church ruins described discipline group monks eager flesh king took year consider action writing prior bath october explain large income dedicated rebuilding cathedral stories visit bath king dream saw high angels ascending descending ladder represented west cathedral interpretation appeared writings years supposed happened challenged robert king commissioned promising build finest vault england promising shall england france design incorporated surviving norman crossing wall arches appointed supervise work site work probably began following spring planned smaller church covering area norman nave live result restoration cathedral completed years reformation subsequent decline prior surrendered crown january sold church stripped lead iron glass left decay sold castle son gave remains building corporation bath corporation difficulty finding private funds restoration queen elizabeth promoted restoration church serve grand parish church bath ordered national fund set finance work decreed parish church bath wells paid new nave roof timber construction according inscription tomb prompted seeking shelter nave thunderstorm buried tomb north aisle modern renaissance 1820s 1830s buildings including houses shops close actually touching walls abbey demolished interior manners erected flying buttresses exterior nave added turrets major restoration work carried sir 1860s funded rector work included installation fan nave merely aesthetic addition completion original design arranged choir design william clues stonework king intended continue nave plan abandoned probably reasons cost addition stone screen choir nave removed scott work completed pupil 1890s including work west work carried 20th 21st centuries included cleaning stonework reconstruction pipe organ stonework west subject natural erosion process lime based conservation carried 1990s guidance professor previously worked west damage sculptures worse use portland cement previous work carried victorian era statue repair removed replaced modern statue architecture new church typical example perpendicular form gothic architecture low nave arcades tall present opposite balance usual perpendicular churches building serve monastic church built plan relatively rare parish churches time interior contains fine fan robert designed similar henry vii chapel westminster abbey building windows occupying wall space giving interior impression reflecting different attitudes shown clergy time 12th century abbey built bath stone gives exterior yellow colour example perpendicular form gothic architecture low nave arcades tall walls roofs supported buttresses pierced added nave bays feet long feet wide pillars rises feet church feet long feet wide west originally constructed large arched window detailed carvings window carvings angels long stone angels climbing apart story mentioned connecting bishop bath wells direct reference dream prophet jacob mentioned bible commonly called window supports statue beneath door statues restoration work late 20th century involved cleaning controlled intermittent water figures lost head shoulders replaced sculptures west interpreted representing spiritual ascent virtue descent vice pride christ man sorrow 1990s major restoration cleaning work carried exterior stonework returning yellow colour hidden centuries dirt windows building windows occupying percent wall space east end square framed window seven lights includes depiction bell presented church window northwest door memorial died stained glass window uncovered abbey design window tower stage central tower square plan bell openings turret tower feet high accessed staircase steps bells old ring bells replaced new ring tenor survive lighter bells added create ring bells diocese tenor recast abbey tower home ring bells unusually hung order bells highest lowest runs anti clockwise ringing chamber tenor weighs cwt bath noted centre change ringing interior interior fan ceiling originally installed robert restored sir fan provides structural stability distributing weight roof ribs transfer force supporting columns flying buttresses scott work 1870s included installation large gas converted electricity new features included new pulpit seating marble general sanctuary removed replaced decorative 1920s redesigned norman chapel war memorial chapel added new screens installed partly improve topped carved angels playing musical instruments monuments abbey wall memorials floor stones include dedicated admiral governor colony new_south_wales australia federation bishop bath wells wife military leader english civil war wife physician elizabeth empress russia sir senator monuments churchyard carved bath war memorials include commemorating anglo war world war second world war recent memorial installed commemorate developer died main organ mention organ abbey dates known instrument properly recorded organ built modified jordan son specification recorded stops spread extended half octaves added instrument renovated repairs effected instrument removed wells subsequently rebuilt extensively modified abbey organ built bristol specification thirty stops instrument rebuilt new gallery london specification stops spread solo department brought total completed removed remainder kept incorporation new abbey organ new organ supplied abbey norman beard stops spread stood divided steel beams north south crossing arches console standing floor north west pier crossing new cases provided designs bath executed erected new case designed sir addition stops pedal rebuilt hill norman beard brought number stops increased total speaking stops positive division separate case console installed time problems caused scheme lack contrasting sharply reliability caused wide variety different types key actions difficult access led decision instrument rebuilt organ totally reconstructed retaining existing instrument far possible restoring largely condition positive division kept instrument stands speaking stops built largely principle organ layout case department deep parts pedal sited sides case new percent tin pipes case completed walls roof pierced executed suffolk provided allow sound case old console retained thoroughly rebuilt modern accessories new organ ranks contain instrument ranks entirely contain ranks entirely ranks contain new entirely new old wind pressures possible old wind restored replaced instrument key action electrically assisted action stop action electric organ stop organ built abbey based organ builder instrument contained case dark oak portable tuned pitches modern concert pitch possible tune pedal reduce stops sounding stop released returns organ registration use depressed choir abbey sections boys girls men children singing abbey tour europe choir broadcast choral recordings performed concert opening bath spa abbey venue visiting inception sung christmas service live bbc located restored 18th century features artifacts exhibits abbey history displays include different buildings site uses abbey impact community construction architecture sculptures buildings artifacts sculptures role abbey present times museum opened currently closed redevelopment
Bath Abbey